The completion of Units 3 and 4 of the Mochovce nuclear power plant in 2013 will bring energy security as well as lower and more stable electricity prices to Slovakia, according to Enel.
The Italian utility has officially marked the start of construction of the site after the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Slovakia approved a number of design changes to the project. It will invest around EUR2.8 billion in the project through its 66 per cent-owned subsidiary Slovenské elektrárne.
“This is an important day for both Slovakia and Enel,” said Enel CEO Fulvio Conti. “The completion of the Mochovce nuclear plant will contribute to the security of supply of the country and to its growing electricity needs ... This is a key event for Enel too, being a milestone of our European nuclear strategy.”
The two new PWR reactor units will be phased into operation in 2012 and 2013 and will have a combined capacity of 880 MW. Slovenské elektrárne had to adapt the civil and technological parts of their design in order to bring them into line with best international practice and the requirements of the supervisory authorities.
When operational, Units 3 and 4 will be able to cover as much as 22 per cent of Slovakia’s electricity demand, which now stands at around 30 000 GWh/year. Imports of electricity are set to rise in the country when the PWR unit at Bohunice 2 is permanently shut down at the end of the year.
The design of Mochovce units 3 and 4 was modified based on the experience of the construction, commissioning and operation of units of the same type in Slovakia and abroad. The design has also been approved by the European Commission.
Slovakia has already closed another nuclear unit, Bohunice 1, and currently has to import around 5000 GWh/year.
Slovenské elektrárne is the largest power generating company in Slovakia and second largest in Central Europe. It is 66 per cent owned by Enel Produzione and 34 per cent by Slovakia’s National Property Fund.
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