The draft of Serbia’s Energy Development Strategy, extending to 2040 with projections up to 2050, indicates that the country’s first nuclear power plant could be operational before 2050. This draft, currently open for public debate by the Ministry of Mining and Energy, explores this potential development.
Previously, the “Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for the period up to 2030 and Vision up to 2050” had suggested a more conservative timeline, estimating that a nuclear power plant might start operating around 2045.
The draft Strategy notes that, given the roadmap for nuclear program development and the planned removal of the moratorium on nuclear power plant construction, the commissioning of a nuclear plant could be feasible before 2040 if all necessary pre-construction and construction activities are completed on schedule.
Currently, Serbia’s Law on the Prohibition of Nuclear Power Plants, enacted after the Chernobyl disaster, means that the country lacks nuclear raw materials, regulatory frameworks, and scientific or engineering personnel for nuclear energy. Educational programs related to nuclear energy have also been discontinued.
Nuclear plants are seen as a stable, low-emission energy source capable of reducing pollution and covering base load electricity needs. The strategy also considers small modular reactors, which are smaller, more cost-effective, and quicker to build compared to traditional plants.
Despite these potential benefits, there is significant public skepticism. Energy policy expert Miodrag Kapor argues that nuclear energy might not be cost-effective compared to available alternative fuels like biomass, biogas, and renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
Additionally, Slobodan Bubnjević from the Institute of Physics in Belgrade highlights the immense scale and long-term commitment required for nuclear projects, questioning whether Serbia has the financial resources and expertise for such an undertaking, even with a relatively stable government.
