Slovakia powers up Mochovce 4 nuclear reactor with first fuel load

Slovakia has taken a major step in expanding its nuclear energy capacity. Slovenské elektrárne has started loading nuclear fuel into the fourth unit of the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant. Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed this move reinforces the country’s position as a global leader in nuclear energy. The Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic granted commissioning permission for the new unit on 22 May 2023. The first fuel assembly was then loaded into the reactor on 29 June 2023 at 15:45 local time.

Active reactor tests will follow once all fuel is in place. Each stage of testing requires approval from the regulator. Mochovce 3 already entered commercial operation in October 2023.

Branislav Strýček, Chairman and CEO of Slovenské elektrárne, called Mochovce 4 a significant achievement for Slovakia’s energy sector. The company is majority-owned by Slovak Power Holding BV, a subsidiary of the Czech energy group Energetický a průmyslový. Each Mochovce unit can supply 13% of Slovakia’s electricity needs at full capacity. With Mochovce 4 operational, nuclear power will cover 77.5% of the country’s electricity consumption. This marks a substantial increase in Slovakia’s reliance on nuclear energy.