Serbia is actively pursuing a partnership with the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom to explore the development of a nuclear energy program. This initiative comes as Serbia seeks to modernize its energy sector and follows the recent lifting of a 35-year ban on constructing nuclear power plants. Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedovic, emphasized the historical energy relationship between Serbia and Russia during discussions with Rosatom’s Director General, Aleksey Likhachev. The talks indicate Serbia’s commitment to laying down a comprehensive nuclear roadmap while engaging with various international stakeholders.
Rosatom is recognized as a leading provider of nuclear technology, boasting over eight decades of experience in global nuclear program development. The Serbian government is particularly interested in leveraging this expertise for knowledge exchange and technical support during the initial phases of its nuclear ambitions. The strategic vision for Serbia’s energy landscape includes nuclear power as a reliable source for baseload electricity generation, which is crucial for supporting economic growth, digital transformation, and decarbonization efforts.
As part of its strategy, Serbia aims to finalize the first two preparatory phases of its nuclear program by 2032. Currently, collaboration with French utility EDF is underway at the early assessment stage, while Belgrade is also open to partnering with additional technology providers. The Minister indicated that advancements in small modular reactor (SMR) technologies could be evaluated alongside traditional reactor designs when reaching the decision phase.
Looking ahead, Serbia plans to establish sufficient institutional, regulatory, and human resource capacities before selecting a technology partner for construction activities. Aiming for a connection to the grid post-2040, this strategic move reflects Serbia’s intent to integrate nuclear energy into its long-term energy framework. Likhachev highlighted Rosatom’s extensive portfolio, which currently includes around 30 operational nuclear units across nine countries such as China, India, Egypt, Turkey, and Hungary. To facilitate ongoing cooperation with Serbia, he suggested forming a working group focused on areas like public communication, workforce development, and regulatory framework analysis.
