Đedović Handanović with subgroup managers – goal: the first nuclear power plant on the grid by 2040

The Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović today spoke with the leaders of subgroups within the Inter-ministerial Expert Working Group on the development of studies in the first phase of the nuclear program. It was emphasized at the meeting that within the working subgroups, which consist of more than 20 experts from various domestic institutions, the majority of the project tasks for 19 infrastructural issues prescribed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA) were defined

The minister stressed the importance of efficiency in the coming period so that, in the short term, the process of issuing procurement tenders for the development of studies that will cover the key topics of the first phase could begin, on which domestic and foreign experts will work. Particular emphasis was placed on the French Development Agency's (AFD) interest in financing the development of studies that would address workforce development, site selection, involvement of domestic industry, and informing the public, to be carried out in cooperation with the French company EDF.

According to the plan, the Ministry's goal is to have all studies necessary for making an informed government decision on the implementation of the nuclear program completed by mid-next year. Such a pace would allow Serbia to be ready to select a technology and enter the construction contracting process by 2032, while it is expected that the first nuclear power plant could be on the grid after 2040.

At the meeting, the key leaders of the subgroups that make up the National Body for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Program (NEPIO) were also presented. Among them are Đorđe Lazarević from the Nikola Tesla Institute, responsible for the legislative framework and safety; Koviljka Stanković from ETF and president of the Serbian Nuclear Society, who leads the sub-group for public information and workforce development; and Radoš Popadić, acting assistant minister for the electricity sector. The expert team is complemented by Zoran Drače for technology and site selection, Milutin Jevremović from the Vinča Institute for the fuel cycle and waste, and Miloš Mladenović from "Nuclear Facilities of Serbia" for the area of nuclear safety and physical protection.