Fico and Sakova Left for US to Sign Agreement on Civil Nuclear Energy

Bratislava, 15 January (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) left for the US on Thursday afternoon to meet with US Secretary of Energy Christopher A. Wright in Washington on Friday (January 16) at approximately 3 p.m. local time and then attend a ceremony to sign an agreement between the Slovak and US governments on cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy, the Government Office's press and information department told TASR on Thursday. Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) and Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) also travelled to the US with Fico. The intergovernmental agreement, which will be signed in Washington, creates a legal and institutional framework for cooperation between the two governments in the field of civil nuclear energy and the responsible use of nuclear energy, and is of fundamental importance for the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Jaslovske Bohunice (Trnava region). The Economy Ministry said the deal is meant to boost strategic cooperation in nuclear energy between Slovakia and the US, share know-how and tech experience, and work together on education, research, and training of the next generation of nuclear experts. The US is one of the world leaders in nuclear energy, with more than 65 years of experience in this sector. "Nuclear energy is a key pillar of Slovakia's energy security. This agreement will allow us to draw on the experience of a nuclear superpower, strengthen our technical capabilities, and increase Slovakia's competitiveness in the field of nuclear engineering within Europe," said Sakova. "If we want to remain energy self-sufficient, we must act well in advance. The construction of a nuclear power plant takes 15-20 years, so it's essential to start the preparatory steps today," she added. According to the Economy Ministry, the agreement doesn't exclusively concern the construction of a new nuclear power plant, but also creates a framework for cooperation in the fields of education, science, and research. "The intergovernmental agreement with the United States doesn't select a specific technology supplier. This will be followed by an expert analysis to determine the technical parameters of the future nuclear source," said the ministry's press department. am