Serbia has set a 2035 target to begin construction of its first nuclear facility. The country also plans to complete the initial assessment phase of its national nuclear programme by mid-2027. It aims to establish the necessary institutional and regulatory framework by 2032.
The programme is being developed through Serbia’s National Nuclear Energy Programme Implementation Organization. It follows the staged approach promoted by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Under this structure, Serbia is expected to resolve legal, regulatory, technical, financing, safety and workforce issues before selecting a final reactor technology or committing to construction.
Assessment and technology comparison steps
A preliminary feasibility study prepared with France’s EDF provides the starting point for further technical and economic work. The next phase is expected to compare available technologies, system requirements, construction models, fuel-cycle arrangements and potential financing structures. This sequence is intended to support decisions ahead of later milestones.
The mid-2027 milestone is designed to provide the Government with enough information to decide whether and how Serbia should proceed. By 2032, Serbia aims to have a functioning nuclear regulatory framework, institutional capacity and a sufficiently developed pool of technical specialists. These elements are positioned as prerequisites before any move toward construction commitments.
Investment envelope and project budgeting limits
Serbia has included nuclear energy in its 2035 development strategy. The strategy contains an investment envelope of approximately €3 billion. The figure is not presented as the confirmed capital cost of a nuclear plant.
A final project budget cannot be established before capacity, technology, ownership, localisation, site and financing have been selected. The programme’s stated objective of starting construction by 2035 also implies that commercial operation would occur later. Large nuclear projects require lengthy construction, commissioning and regulatory approval.
Workforce development and financing requirements
Workforce development is described as a central workstream for Serbia’s programme. The Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences and the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad are preparing a master’s programme for future nuclear engineers. Additional specialist needs include nuclear regulation, safety assessment, environmental permitting and radiation protection.
Serbia also expects requirements in project finance, construction supervision, cyber security and emergency preparedness. Financing arrangements are described as a key determinant of whether the programme progresses beyond preparatory studies. Nuclear projects require long-duration debt, strong state support and a revenue framework able to absorb construction delay and cost-overrun risk.
Implications for power system planning
Nuclear generation is cited as a potential source of low-carbon baseload for Serbia’s electricity system. The programme is also linked to reducing long-term dependence on lignite and imports.
The credibility of the 2035 construction target is described as dependent on completing earlier milestones. In particular, it points to the 2027 decision package and the 2032 institutional-readiness deadline as key steps in establishing readiness for subsequent phases.
