Fico: Westinghouse Nuclear Plant Deal Could Be Signed in 2027 (2)

Bratislava, 14 January (TASR) – A contract between Slovakia and US company Westinghouse on building a new nuclear power plant could be signed in 2027, said Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) after an away-from-home government session in the Bratislava borough of Petrzalka on Wednesday. The prime minister is due to travel to the United States regarding this matter at the end of this week. "Yes, if we sign this agreement in Washington on Friday [16 January], I'll go there. It will be a prerequisite for the government to start talks with Westinghouse. However, we're still far from signing any contracts. I think that a realistic timetable for a final contract — that is a contract between Slovakia and Westinghouse — is sometime next year," said Fico. "We aren't going to sign a contract directly; we're going to agree with the government of the United States of America that we will cooperate as two countries that support nuclear energy. I must thank them for the fact that a large part of the agreement specifies that it won't just be some machine or piece of equipment coming here; education and research centres are to be set up here. All of this will be linked to American technology. I think that's unique — Slovakia will probably become one of the few countries in the world to acquire experience not only with reactors of Russian origin, but also with reactors from other countries," said Fico. Fico pointed out that Slovakia has six operational nuclear reactors. "All of them are reactors of Russian origin with outputs of between 440 and 500 megawatts (MW). Cooperation with the Russians was always very fair and very professional. The nuclear power plants are very successful, but under the given circumstances I simply cannot imagine the European environment allowing us to continue such cooperation with the Russian Federation. I would happily continue, but the world is crazy with hatred towards the Russian Federation. I don't harbour such hatred, but I am a realist," he underlined. "Therefore, if we want to build a new nuclear power plant, and we do, we have to look for a partner that can deliver it. At this moment, the only such partner is the United States of America. South Korea declined for capacity reasons and will moreover cooperate with the Americans. The French don't have this type of reactor; they have significantly higher output of 1,600 MW, while we need up to 1,200 MW. Exactly such a project is available from American company Westinghouse," the prime minister added. At its session in Petrzalka, the Slovak cabinet also discussed and approved a proposal to conclude an agreement between the Slovak and US governments on facilitating cooperation on the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant project and on the civilian nuclear programme in Slovakia. This item, prepared by the Economy Ministry, was discussed as restricted information not to be made public under the law on the protection of classified information. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final two paragraphs mf/df