Decades-Long Involvement at Jaslovské Bohunice Underscores Commitment to Country
Westinghouse's strong presence in Slovakia goes back nearly a decade and has included contracts for decommissioning of the Jaslovské Bohunice nuclear power plant (NPP) and supplying nuclear fuel to Slovak power plants. We continue to strengthen our involvement in the country with a possible AP1000® project at Jaslovské Bohunice.
From left: Petr Brzezina, Elias Gedeon, Westinghouse SVP, U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia Gautam Rana, Pavol Štuller, Chairman of the Board and CEO of JAVYS, signing MOU.
Westinghouse has been operating in Slovakia since 2017, when engineers from our Trnava office began working on the decommissioning of two reactor units at Jaslovské Bohunice V1. This project, managed by the Slovak Nuclear and Decommissioning Company (JAVYS), involves the dismantling of primary circuit components and the management of radioactive waste. The work is expected to be completed by this summer.
“We have been operating at Jaslovské Bohunice for many years and our Trnava office has been significantly involved there," said Petr Brzezina, Westinghouse President for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. “We have built good relationships with universities, institutions and many companies in Slovakia, and we also cooperate with some of them on projects outside Slovakia.”
In 2023, Westinghouse further solidified its partnership with Slovakia by signing agreements with Slovak state-owned nuclear company JAVYS to develop AP1000 reactors and AP300™ small modular reactors (SMRs) in the country. The AP1000 reactor, a proven and advanced reactor design, has been proposed to the Slovak government to support the development of Slovakia’s nuclear program at the Jaslovské Bohunice NPP. “Westinghouse will be happy to participate in its further development during the construction of the new nuclear unit in Jaslovské Bohunice,“ said Brzezina. “We believe that the new Bohunice unit will become part of the large AP1000 fleet in Europe and the Slovak nuclear industry will be involved in its delivery, servicing and operation."
Westinghouse leadership signing agreement with Slovenské elektrárne to license and supply VVER-440 fuel assemblies to its Nuclear Power Plants in Slovakia.
As the only operational reactor of its size, the AP1000 reactor is ready for deployment across Europe, to begin commercial operation in the second half of the 2030s, creating significant opportunities for local companies in Slovakia and across the continent. Westinghouse and our AP1000 reactor design has been chosen for at least 14 new reactors in Poland, Bulgaria and Ukraine. The first new AP1000 units are anticipated to come online in Poland and Bulgaria in the mid-2030s. Slovakia, with decades of experience in operating nuclear units and a robust nuclear industry and supply chain, is well-positioned to integrate into Westinghouse’s growing fleet of AP1000 reactors.
These activities complement the company’s long-term arrangement with Slovenské elektrárne for the licensing and supply of VVER-440 fuel assemblies to their nuclear power plants. This collaboration enhances Slovakia’s energy security while diversifying its nuclear fuel supply.
To further enhance Westinghouse’s presence in Slovakia, we have launched a local website to provide valuable information about our technologies. company updates, and developments in our Slovakian operations.
Photo caption: The Westinghouse engineering team from Trnava, Slovakia
