The U.S. and Slovakia sign a new nuclear deal

On January 16, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico signed an intergovernmental agreement to cooperate on the development of Slovakia's civil nuclear power program. This agreement spans a variety of civil nuclear activities, but especially notable is the inclusion of a plan to develop an American 1,200-MWe commercial power reactor at Bohunice nuclear power plant.

Looking closer: According to the Department of Energy, the two nations want to bolster both European and American energy security. On the American side, the deal is expected to create jobs in engineering, advanced manufacturing, construction, nuclear fuel services, and project management while also strengthening U.S. supply chains and expanding the international market for U.S.-made nuclear technology.

As for Slovakia, this deal will help the country transition away from its present reliance on Russian-designed reactors, a move that the DOE says will support and align Central European energy generally.

The DOE also highlighted that-beyond this new reactor project-the IGA covers development in supply chains, safety and security best practices, workforce development, and long-term project planning.

On the deal, Wright said, "Today's civil nuclear agreement reflects our shared commitment to strengthening European energy security and sovereignty for decades to come."

Broader context: Slovakia's first year of commercial nuclear operation was 1972, when Bohunice A1-a 104-MWe gas-cooled heavy water reactor-started up. Bohunice-1 and -2, both of which were 408-MWe PWRs, followed in 1980 and 1981. All three Russian-designed reactors are now shut down.

Still in operation are Bohunice-3 and -4, two 466-MWe PWRs that came on line in 1985. Like their predecessors, these units are Russian-designed VVERs.

In 1998, the first unit at Slovakia's second nuclear power station, Mochovce, came on line. Currently, there are three fully operational VVERs at Mochovce, and one more in the final stages of administrative approval. In all, according to the International Energy Agency, nuclear accounts for 65.2 percent of Slovakia's domestic energy production.

With this current technological landscape in mind, it is clear that Slovakia's new embrace of U.S nuclear technology is a significant shift from its current VVER infrastructure. Speaking on the deal, Fico said, "I see this moment as a significant milestone in our bilateral relations, but also as a clear signal that Slovakia and the United States are united by a common strategic thinking about the future of energy-about its safety, sustainability, and technological maturity."