Serbia is on the brink of overturning a 35-year-old ban on the construction of nuclear power plants, signaling a major shift in the country’s energy policy. The government is now considering nuclear energy as a key strategy to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy independence, driven by the increasing energy demands from the electrification of the economy and the growth of renewable energy sources.
This discussion gained momentum in April when Serbia signed a memorandum of understanding with France’s EDF, a global leader in electricity production, to explore the development of a nuclear energy program. By June, Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic, Serbia’s minister of mining and energy, confirmed that the government was actively preparing for a nuclear energy initiative. She highlighted the need to diversify Serbia’s energy portfolio to secure a stable energy supply.
The government has initiated a public debate on proposed amendments to the country’s energy laws, which include a new chapter focused on nuclear energy. These amendments outline a three-phase program for the peaceful application of nuclear technology: beginning with a feasibility assessment, followed by the development of a nuclear program, and ultimately its implementation.
Additionally, the amendments propose strategies for advancing thermal energy and hydrogen technologies, reflecting a broader effort to diversify Serbia’s energy sources. If approved, these amendments would repeal the longstanding Law on the Prohibition of the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a law that has been in effect since the 1980s.
