Slovakia receives another grant to support and implement nuclear programs and innovation, including small modular reactors
Slovakia has had another extraordinary success - it has received a $5 million grant to support activities towards the decision to build small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of another project NEXT. Slovak Republic, represented by the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic and in cooperation with the Slovak Electric, a. s., Slovak Technical University (STU), Nuclear Supervision Authority (ÚJD) of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Electricity and Transmission System (SEPS), a. s., VUJE, a. s. and U.S. Steel Košice, a. s., has entered an international competition to obtain support for further activities related to the introduction of new nuclear technologies, in particular SMR.
"Nuclear power and nuclear energy are the most important topics within the energy sector, as they will significantly help decarbonize our industry, contribute to climate goals, but most importantly secure Slovakia's energy security and independence. I am therefore very pleased that we, as a small country, have succeeded, such a great and significant success," said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Minister of the Economy of the Slovak Republic, Denisa Saková.
The NEXT project is part of another US initiative to promote and implement nuclear programs, innovation and exchange of experience through cooperation with the academic sector. Its activities may also contribute to the further development of the use of SMR technologies and their potential for siting at former coal-fired power plant sites, which is the subject of analyses under the successful PHOENIX project, through which the Slovak Republic has already successfully obtained a $2 million grant to fund a feasibility study of SMRs in Slovakia in the past period.
The current NEXT grant project aims to fund activities that will help countries decide whether to build SMRs and build capacity for implementation. In addition to advice on the technical and regulatory requirements for SMRs, activities supported include cooperation with US universities, visits to US nuclear facilities and the development of SMR deployment strategies.
Press Department of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic