Mikus: Slovakia Self-sufficient in Energy Production 20 Years Ago

Bratislava, October 25 (TASR) - Slovakia became self-sufficient in electricity production for the first time 20 years ago, Slovak Nuclear Forum (SJF) president Tibor Mikus said at a conference titled 'Secure Energy Supply-SES 2018' in Bratislava on Thursday. Mikus spoke in reference to the 20th anniversary of the launch of Mochovce nuclear power plant's block 1 (EMO1) into operation. "With pride I declare that 20 years ago we as the Slovak Republic achieved self-sufficiency in electricity for the first time ever. Unfortunately, by the technically and economically unjustified decommissioning of V1 power plant we lost it again - hence, we're importing what we could have produced ourselves or even exported to others," he claimed. The decommissioning of V1 Jaslovske Bohunice power plant was one of the prerequisites for Slovakia joining the EU in 2004. According to Mikus, nuclear energy is "absolutely inevitable" for countries such as Slovakia, which import more than 90 percent of electricity primary sources. "With respect to the global (climate) change and energy supply security, I think that the contemporary era only underlines the importance of nuclear energy because it allows the creation of strategic fuel supplies in a small area. As for environment pollution, the global change unequivocally favours nuclear energy," he stated. This view was also echoed by Employer Unions Association (AZZZ) President Tomas Malatinsky, who claimed that the nuclear energy is still present and a necessary component of the energy mix. "Defending nuclear energy is becoming problematic within the EU, as currently half of the member states are either abandoning nuclear energy or have never worked with nuclear energy before," said Malatinsky. He added, however, that UN reports exist, which establish that the global energy system cannot function without nuclear energy and this also holds true in Europe. The conference is organised by AZZZ and Slovak Nuclear Forum. mf/mcs