Opposition Strongly Criticises Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with USA

Bratislava, 23 January (TASR) - The Slovak-US agreement to facilitate cooperation on the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant project and Slovakia's civil nuclear programme has sparked strong criticism from the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and Progressive Slovakia (PS) parties. The opposition, for example, objects to the commitment to "encourage" partly state-owned company JESS to choose an American reactor and American contractors. MP Karol Galek (SaS) views this wording as nothing but political pressure, raising suspicions of clientelism. The wording of the agreement was approved by the government on 14 January under classified information conditions. "We learnt about such a significant agreement quietly and only after it was signed, without any expert discussion or public oversight," noted MP Ivan Stefunko (PS). "It's striking that Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), according to the agreement, is relying on an exemption from the European Commission, even though he has long attacked the EU and his MEPs voted for the Commission's fall," he said. In what would be the biggest public contract in Slovakia's history, the government has decided to favour an American partner while ignoring other options that could have meant a lower price, stated the opposition. SaS called on the premier to immediately sign identical memoranda with France and South Korea, both of which have previously expressed interest in participating in the construction of a new nuclear power facility in Slovakia. "If Fico fails to open the door to other relevant players, he will only confirm that, for the sake of an opportunity to have a photo with the US president, he's willing to jeopardise the largest investment in Slovakia's history, turning himself into exactly what he's criticised others of being for many years - an obedient servant of foreign interests," stated Galek. Premier Fico and Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) have claimed in the past that US company Westinghouse is the only one able to supply a new reactor with an output of some 1,200 megawatts in real time. After resolving a licence dispute with the USA, South Korea has withdrawn from planned projects in Europe, except for in the Czech Republic, where a contract has already been signed. Meanwhile, French companies, according to analysts, don't have the available capacity due to high demand. The price for building the reactor is questionable in this case. From initial estimates amounting to some €11 billion, the most common estimate is now €15 billion. The opposition has pointed to experience from other countries, but also, for example, to the construction of the third and fourth reactors at Mochovce, for which the price increased significantly when compared to initial estimates. ko/df