The energy policy of Slovakia was approved by a resolution of the Slovak Government, No. 548/2014 of 5 November 2014. The energy policy is a strategic document defining the energy sector's primary objectives and priorities through 2035, with a vision also provided through 2050. The energy policy is a component of Slovakia's national economic strategy, given that sustainable economic growth is conditioned by a reliable supply of affordable energy. The priority from this perspective is ensuring the reliability and stability of energy supply, efficient energy utilization at optimum cost and environmental protection. It is envisioned that a well-functioning energy market with a competitive environment will be strengthened by domestic energy policy implementation. The task of the energy policy is to create a stable framework for a safely operating energy market that motivates investments in energy.

Slovakia became a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994 and a party to the Kyoto Protocol in 2002.

By resolution of the Slovak Government No. 256/2014, the Government adopted the Policy, Principles and Strategy for Further Development of Nuclear Safety. The aim of the resolution is to summarize and strengthen the principles needed to protect the public and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation associated with peaceful uses of nuclear energy (see www.economy.gov.sk and www.ujd.gov.sk).

TABLE 1. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Source: Slovak Minerals Yearbook 2011, State Geological Institute of Dionyz Stur, Bratislava (2011) and Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic (MH SR).

* Solid, liquid: million tonnes; gas: billion m³; uranium: tonnes; hydro and renewable: TW.

Slovakia has limited available domestic energy resources (i.e. lignite, oil, natural gas and renewable resources).

TABLE 2. ENERGY CONSUMPTION

*Latest available data, please note that compound annual growth rate may not be representative of actual average growth.

**Total energy derived from primary and secondary generation sources. Figures do not reflect potential heat output that may result from electricity co-generation.

Sources: United Nations Statistical Division, OECD/IEA and IAEA RDS-1.

On 31 July 2012, Act No. 250/2012 Coll. on Regulation in Network Industries as amended was approved by Parliament. It entered into force on 1 September 2012. Since then it has been amended several times.

This law states that the Regulatory Office for Network Industries ( RSO) is legally separate and functionally independent from any state, public or private institutions. Its representatives act independently, without any market or other interests, and while performing their duties they do not follow instructions from any third parties.

SE, a. s. is the largest electricity producer in Slovakia, also generating and selling heat and providing ancillary services for the power grid. It has an installed capacity of 4 143.8 MW(e) with an ideal energy mix for the country nuclear energy, hydropower and conventional sources in combination with biomass cogeneration and photovoltaic sources. SE, a. s. operates 31 hydropower plants, two NPPs, two thermal power plants and two photovoltaic plants.

SE, a. s. has two shareholders as of 31 December 2021. The majority shareholder is Slovak Power Holding (SPH), owning a 66% share in the registered capital of SE, a. s. A 50 % stake in the share capital of SPH is owned by the company EP Slovakia B.V. (a subsidiary of the EPH group) and the remaining 50% is owned by Enel Produzione S.p.A. (a subsidiary of the Enel group). The company's minority shareholder, with a 34% share in the registered capital, is the Slovak Republic, represented by the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic.

The transmission system is owned and operated by Slovenska elektrizacn prenosova s'stava (Slovak Electricity Transmission System; SEPS, a.s.), which acts as the power system operator (www.sepsas.sk/en_index.asp). The Slovak Republic owns 100% of company shares, with the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic acting on its behalf. The transmission system consists of 2 356.6 km of 400 kV lines, 690.06 km of 220 kV lines and 79.8 km of 110 kV lines.

Slovakia's transmission grid is connected to the wider European transmission system and Ukraine by means of 11 extra high voltage (EHV; 400 kV) and 2 high voltage (220 kV) interconnectors, including 5 with the Czech Republic (3 EHV and 2 high voltage), 2 EHV with Poland, 1 EHV with Ukraine and 5 EHV with Hungary. Two new EHV interconnectors with Hungary have been in operation since April 2021. All neighbouring countries have interconnections with Slovakia, apart from Austria. From the historical perspective, Slovakia is also interconnected with the Czech Republic at the 110 kV level (operated by the distribution system operator).

1.2.2.1. Distribution and supply

As of 1 July 2007, the legal unbundling of electricity supply from electricity distribution took place in the vertically integrated companies Zapadoslovenska energetika (ZSE, www.zse.sk/english), Stredoslovenska energetika (SSE, www.sse.sk) and V chodoslovenska energetika (VSE, www.vse.sk/web/sk/domacnosti/uvod). Thus, three legally independent companies emerged as operators of regional distribution systems Zapadoslovenska distribucn , Stredoslovenska distribucn and V chodoslovenska distribucn with licences for conducting business in electricity distribution, and electricity supply is secured by these three household electricity end'suppliers. Further electricity suppliers are electricity producers, small businesses and electricity traders.

As of 1 July 2007, the electricity market has been opened to all electricity consumers, including households, based on European Union (EU) legislation provisions, such as EU Directive 2019/944 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on common rules for the internal market for electricity and amending Directive 2012/27/EU.

TABLE 3. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

*Latest available data, please note that compound annual growth rate may not be representative of actual average growth.

**Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

: data not available.

Source: United Nations Statistical Division, SEPS, a.s., OECD/IEA and IAEA RDS-1.

TABLE 4. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

Source: RDS-1 and RDS-2.

: data not available.

Commercial utilization of nuclear power in Slovakia (at that time as part of Czechoslovakia) began in 1972. Nowadays, there are two operational NPPs: Bohunice Units 3 and 4 (V-2) and Mochovce Units 1 and 2. NPP Bohunice V-1 and NPP Bohunice A-1 are in permanent shutdown (decommissioning stages), while construction of NPP Mochovce Units 3 and 4 restarted in mid-2009.

FIG. 1. Organizational structure of regulatory authorities and relation to governmental organization in the nuclear sector in the Slovak Republic (SR).

Licensees are SE, a. s. and JAVYS, a. s. The governmental organizations with responsibility in the nuclear field include the following:

• JD SR (www.ujd.gov.sk);

• Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, Public Health Authority (www.uvzsr.sk);

• Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic (www.economy.gov.sk);

• Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic (www.minzp.sk);

• Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic (www.employment.gov.sk);

• Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic (www.mindop.sk);

• Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic (www.minv.sk)

• Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic (www.mosr.sk),

• Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic (www.mzv.sk).

In Slovakia, there are currently four WWER-440/V213 type nuclear units in operation two units at the Jaslovsk Bohunice site and two units at the Mochovce site. In addition, there are two additional WWER-440/V213 units in Mochovce under construction. The total installed capacity of units in operation is 2000 MW(e). The owner and holder of the licence to operate all the units in operation in Slovakia is SE, a. s. In 2021, NPP Bohunice produced 8021.005 GW h and NPP Mochovce 7709.017 GW h of electricity in total.

The owner and operator of NPP Bohunice V-1 and NPP Bohunice A-1, both in the decommissioning stages, is the utility JAVYS, a. s. (see Table 5).

TABLE 5. STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

The NPPs have been upgraded in numerous ways throughout their operational lifetimes, and improvement of the containment tightness/integrity of existing plants is considered a major achievement.

Based on Act No. 541/2004 Coll. on the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy and on the Amendment and Alteration of Several Other Acts as Amended (Atomic Act), a licence for operation is valid for an unlimited period. However, in accordance with legal requirements of the Atomic Act, all the plants are subject to periodic safety reviews (PSRs) every ten years. The latest periodic reviews were completed for NPP Bohunice V-2 in 2017 and for NPP Mochovce 1, 2 in 2018. The aim of these reviews was a comprehensive assessment of NPPs in terms of compliance with legislation and international safety standards, as well as project changes made with a view to increasing the level of safety. The review also considers how the licensee implemented corrective measures specified in the final report of JD SR from the PSRs. In its reports on both PSRs, JD SR described its findings and established measures for their subsequent removal. The complete JD SR reports on the PSR of NPPs Bohunice V-2 and Mochovce 1, 2 are published on the JD SR web site.

Since 1991, a number of the international missions have taken place, including: approximately 35 IAEA missions (site review, design review, Operational Safety Review Team (OSART), Pre-OSART and International Probabilistic Safety Assessment Review Team (IPSART) missions); 12 World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) missions; 2 RISKAUDIT missions; and one Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA) mission. With regard to the results, the operator of both NPPs took measures to further improve the safety and reliability of operation. The measures were aimed at improving the management and organization of activities, staff training, operational documentation and marking of equipment.

Detailed information on plant upgrade and safety improvements is available in the Slovak National Report under the Convention on Nuclear Safety.

The decommissioning of nuclear installations represents a set of administrative and technical activities to be performed after operation termination, with the aim of releasing the nuclear installation from the scope of the Atomic Act. The licence holder is obliged to ensure successful decommissioning, including ensuring the necessary financial means. The decommissioning stage can start based on JD SR authorization. The holder of a licence for the decommissioning stage is responsible for the decommissioning process.

The basic concept for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and radioactive waste management is provided by the National Policy and the National Programme for SNF management and radioactive waste management. On 8 July 2015, the Government by resolution No. 387/2015 approved the National Policy and the National Programme, replacing the previous strategy for the back end of peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Slovakia. The National Policy is based on the principles provided by Act No. 308/2018 Coll. on the National Nuclear Fund and on the amendments and supplements to the Atomic Act and on amendments and supplements to some acts as amended by Act No. 221/2019 Coll.

At present, the two ongoing decommissioning projects in Slovakia are NPP Bohunice A-1 and NPP Bohunice V-1.

With regard to Bohunice A-1, following two serious accidents in 1977, the NPP was shut down and scheduled for gradual decommissioning. The process of decommissioning commenced after the licence for decommissioning was obtained in 1999. This process was divided into five successive stages. At the end of February 2016, JAVYS, a. s. applied for licences for Stages 3 and 4 of decommissioning of NPP Bohunice to JD SR under the legislation applicable for A-1. JD SR issued Decision No. 369/2016, which licensed JAVYS, a. s. to commence Stages 3 and 4 of decommissioning of NPP Bohunice A-1, as well as authorization for radioactive waste management during decommissioning. Work related to these stages of decommissioning is scheduled to run through the end of 2024 and is focused on the ongoing treatment of liquid radioactive waste (RAW), sludge from long term storage and long term storage casings of SNF. The licence holder continues to carry out activities related to the decommissioning of original, non-functional and disused technological systems of external facilities and technological equipment buildings of the main generating unit of the reactor hall and interim hall. After Stage 4 completion, the final fifth stage of decommissioning will follow. Completion of the decommissioning process for NPP Bohunice A-1 is scheduled for 2033. Decommissioning is financed by the National Nuclear Fund. The SNF was exported to the Russian Federation based on the original contract and the transport of spent fuel was completed in 1999.

Bohunice V-1 NPP Units 1 and 2 were shut down in 2006 and 2008, respectively, based on Slovakian commitments associated with the accession process to the European Union. Decommissioning is being implemented in two stages, with the final deadline in 2025. The first stage was in progress from 20 July 2011 to 31 December 2014. The second stage commenced on 1 January 2015 and is planned to be completed before 31 December 2025. The second stage mainly includes the decommissioning of the buildings of the main generating unit and the building of auxiliary facilities. The most important activities are dismantling of reactors, equipment of the primary circuit and other equipment in the controlled zone, their decontamination and radiation control. The final condition of the site at the end of the second stage will be brownfield. The current state of decommissioning of NPP Bohunice V-1 has been continuously monitored and is in line with the plan for Stage 2 of the decommissioning of NPP Bohunice V-1. After the final inspection, the site will be released from control by regulatory authorities. Spent fuel from these units has already been transported to the interim spent fuel storage (ISFS).

The total operation termination costs for Bohunice V-1 NPP were calculated to be 1239 billion. The operation termination activities and preparation for decommissioning of the Bohunice V-1 NPP are co-financed by the National Nuclear Fund and the Bohunice International Decommissioning Support Fund. More information is available in the Slovak National Report to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management as of August 2020.

TABLE 6. STATUS OF DECOMMISSIONING PROCESS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

The document New Nuclear Source at the Jaslovsk Bohunice Site was approved by a governmental resolution in 2008, in which the Government required an evaluation of legal and economic implications within the context of the NPP Bohunice site and establishment of a venture which will support construction of a new NPP at the Jaslovsk Bohunice site.

The proposal for establishment of the company Jadrov energetick spolocnost Slovenska (Nuclear Energy Company of Slovakia, JESS) was approved by a governmental resolution in December 2009. JESS was established as a joint venture consisting of the companies JAVYS, a.s. and CEZ Bohunice, a. s., subsidiary of the company CEZ, a.s. The shares of both investors are in compliance with the stockholder contract 51% for JAVYS, a. s. and 49% for CEZ Bohunice, a.s.

TABLE 7. PLANNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

In 2012, a feasibility study to assess the key aspects of the planned new NPP in Slovakia was compiled and presented. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process started in 2013. The development of the EIA immediately followed the preliminary study for the proposed activity. The preliminary study was submitted to the Ministry of Environment on 5 March 2014. Following publication of the EIA report, there were public hearings on the municipal level held in Slovakia and across the borders in Austria, Germany, Hungary and Ukraine. The EIA process was concluded by a positive final statement on the project in the first half of 2016. This statement is an indispensable basis for further licensing activities in the context of the authorization procedure, within the framework of the Atomic Act and the Construction Act.

The project activities were attenuated in 2017 2018; in 2019 the preparation of the new NPP project in accordance with Government Program Statement was updated and the plan of the project for 2019 2025 was approved by stakeholders of JESS. The project of the new NPP is now in a pre-preparatory stage, which will be completed by obtaining a site permit in compliance with legislation approved in September 2021 (Act No. 363/2021 Coll.). Future steps depend on a stakeholders decision to continue with the new NPP project through the preparatory stage, which will be completed by selection of a particular supplier, including the appropriate investment and financial model.

The new NPP is expected to be funded and financed by the private sector.

In recent years, JESS, in cooperation with SEPS and Zapadoslovenska distribucn , has prepared more detailed studies of the connection of the new NPP to the transmission and distribution systems. Based on their results, both electrical system operators may consider the future application of the new NPP in the transmission and distribution systems.

Information can be found at www.jess.sk/en.

Information can be found at www.jess.sk/en/home/press/press-releases/representative-quantitative-opinion-poll.

R&D activities in Slovakia are mostly based on solving the current specific problems arising from practice in industry. Individual projects are bound to international R&D activities, particularly those conducted within the European Union or by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA) members.

R&D is financed partially from the state budget and is completed with funds from the private sector or support from the European Union. Currently ongoing international R&D projects are funded by the European Commission's Horizon 2020 scheme and IAEA's Regional Cooperation Project (RER). National projects are supported by the National Nuclear Fund, the Slovak National Agency for Science and Research (APVV) and the Slovak National Scientific Agency (VEGA).

Technical support organizations related to utilities and universities participate in relevant R&D. Typically, activities focus on:

Research, development and engineering activities in the area of the evaluation of safety, reliability and effectiveness of operation in the phases of commissioning and decommissioning of energy and heat sources;

• Development of design and safety documentation necessary for the licensing process of nuclear installations, e.g. basic and detailed design of safety and operation systems of NPPs, safety reports for diverse phases of licensing, environmental impact assessment including monitoring, emergency planning and crisis management;

• Research and development activities in the area of decommissioning of energy and heat sources, facilities for the management of waste, and facilities for the transport of both harmful and dangerous materials;

• Assessment of power installations and of their impact on the environment, including monitoring, emergency planning and crisis management;

• Development and use of information, management and supporting systems for increasing the safety and reliability of operation of industrial objects;

• Training in safety, reliability and effectiveness of operation and decommissioning of energy and heat sources.

JD SR initiates R&D where it considers that there is a need for additional studies beyond those undertaken by utilities or where suitable critical considerations have to be applied.

Organizations which conduct nuclear research and development in Slovakia include:

• VUJE, a.s., Trnava;

• VUEZ, Levice;

• RELKO, Bratislava;

• Slovak Academy of Sciences;

• Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava;

• Commenius University, Bratislava;

• ABmerit, Trnava.

Slovakia participates in the ALLEGRO project, which is a low power gas cooled fast reactor (GFR) project under consideration in the European Union framework. The concept of the ALLEGRO demonstrator was originally developed in the first decade of this century by France's CEA. In 2010 four companies and research organizations from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (VUJE, a.s., UJV RE , EK and NCJB) signed a memorandum of understanding, which resulted in 2013 into the establishment of a legal entity, the V4G4 Centre of Excellence (V4G4 CoE), with CEA as an associated member since 2017 and Research Centre Re as an associated member since 2019. The goal of the V4G4 Centre of Excellence has been the continuation of the GFR development.

Slovakia is a member of the following international organizations:

• IAEA;

• OECD/NEA;

• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO);

• Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA).

JD SR takes part in several international cooperative groups, including:

• European High Level Group on Nuclear Safety and Waste Management, organized by the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG, cooperation to progressively develop a common understanding and further common approaches in priority domains related to the safety of nuclear installations);

• Steering Committee, Standing Technical Committees and working groups of the OECD/NEA;

• Network of Regulators of Countries with Small Nuclear Programmes (NERS);

• Zangger Committee (dealing with controlling the export of nuclear materials and equipment);

• Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG, dealing with controlling the export of nuclear materials and equipment and dual use materials and equipment);

• Forum of the State Nuclear Safety Authorities of the Countries Operating WWER Type Reactors (WWER Regulators Forum).

Additionally, other institutions involved also in R&D activities in the nuclear area (VUJE, a.s., NJF, STU, SE, a. s.) have joined the research projects of the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 scheme, OECD/NEA Joint Projects and IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects.

It is important that the general public be as well informed about the operation of power plants as possible. The access to information is guaranteed by the Constitution and other instruments on human rights since the early 1990s. Act No. 211/2000 Coll. on Free Access to Information and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts (Freedom of Information Act) as amended provides citizens with a statutory way to obtain necessary information. This act, together with the Atomic Act, Act No. 24/2006 Coll. on Environmental Impact Assessment and on the amendments and supplements to some acts as amended, and Act No. 205/2004 Coll. on Collection, Storage and Dissemination of Environmental Information and Amending Certain Acts as Amended, implement, inter alia, the Aarhus convention, and as such constitute the legislative framework of communication with the public in the field of nuclear energy.

Therefore, all activities that contribute to inform and educate the public are supported, and operators organize a number of their own initiatives, such as public events where citizens have a chance to get more information on the use of nuclear energy and NPP operation. Prominent communication channels of licence holders include: the information centre of SE, a. s., ENERGOLAND, located close to the NPPs in Mochovce; the information centres of JAVYS, a.s., in Jaslovsk Bohunice and Mochovce; newsletter Energy for the country by SE, a. s., magazine JAVYS with us by JAVYS, a. s.; and the websites and social media of the license holders. Special access to a system with detailed information on RAW management has been enabled for majors in the vicinity of the nuclear installations of JAVYS, a. s. These projects are aimed to help the public to better understand nuclear energy.

Slovakia considers local communities to be of primary importance.

The Bohunice Local Information Commission (OIK) was established in 2007 to improve public awareness among inhabitants of the region within the Emergency Planning Zone of the nuclear facilities at Jaslovsk Bohunice, including all aspects of their operation, safety and the influence of these nuclear facilities on the environment.

The Mochovce OIK was established in 2005 to improve awareness among inhabitants of the region within the Emergency Planning Zone of the Mochovce NPP compound about all aspects of its operation and about the safety and influence of the Mochovce NPP and the National Radioactive Waste Repository on the environment through the citizens delegates.

The Mochovce OIK and Bohunice OIK are made up of representatives of townships and institutions from within a 20 km radius of the relevant NPP. The representatives of the citizens work together with appointed representatives of SE, a. s., JAVYS, a. s., JESS, JD SR and other regulatory authorities.

The Slovak Nuclear Society (SNUS) is a voluntary association of experts. The professional and study interests of SNUS revolve around nuclear technology, nuclear energy and the uses of ionizing radiation, and it is also a member of the European Nuclear Society. SNUS coordinates expert activities of other organizations in Slovakia as well as international relations and cooperation. It works with social, governmental and municipal organizations and authorities, companies and the media.

Cooperation with institutions is very open and effective. Interagency task groups have been formed to address various issues, including the EIA process, public access to information and others. In addition, there is frequent contact with representatives of institutions on a need basis.

The media are recognized as a primary source of information dissemination to the public. Therefore, operators and regulatory bodies give full attention to all media requests. Regular formal and informal meetings with journalists are organized to provide them with comprehensive information on nuclear activities.

All international obligations of Slovakia are fulfilled and good relations with neighbouring countries are maintained by organizing annual meetings on exchange of information and cooperation.

SE, a. s. and JAVYS, a. s. take an active approach with respect to their participation in stakeholder organizations and provide various levels of support depending on the relevance and significance of each organization.

Act No. 387/2002 Coll. on the Management of State in Crisis Situations Other than Time of War and State of War as Amended establishes the scope of competencies of public authorities in managing the state in crisis situations outside a time of war and hostilities, the rights and obligations of legal entities and of individuals in preparing for emergencies outside a time of war and hostilities and for their resolution, and sanctions for breach of obligations established by this act. Crisis management bodies include:

• The Government;

• The Security Council;

• Ministries and other central government authorities;

• The National Bank of Slovakia;

• Security councils of regions and district office;

• Security councils of districts;

• Municipalities.

The Government, as the supreme authority in crisis management, in compliance with Act No. 387/2002 Coll., establishes the Central Crisis Staff as its executive body, which coordinates the activity of government bodies, local government bodies and other components designed to resolve a crisis situation during a crisis period (i.e. during resolution of an incident or an accident at a nuclear installation or during transport of nuclear material). The chairman of the Central Crisis Staff is the Minister of Interior.

In order to provide the necessary measures to cope with potential emergencies at nuclear installations, in addition to measures to protect the public and the economy in case of an accident with impact on the surroundings, the national organization of emergency preparedness is structured on three levels. The first level consists of emergency committees of nuclear installations, the main functions of which are to manage work and measures on the territory of nuclear installations so that they establish the status of technological equipment, to manage measures for coping with emergency situations and to limit the consequences on the personnel, equipment, environment and public. Another role at this level is an information gathering function for local state administration on the national and regional levels, which secures information about the status of equipment and the possible impacts on the surroundings.

The second level is organized regionally and consists of crisis staff of local government, the territory of which falls within possibly affected areas of the Emergency Planning Zone, where there can be danger to life, health or property and where public protective actions are planned. This area is defined by the boundaries of the nuclear installations of JAVYS, a. s., in Jaslovsk Bohunice (only the territory of NPP Bohunice V-1, NPP Bohunice A-1, RAW Processing and Treatment Technology (TS RAO) and ISFS), 21 km around NPP Bohunice V-2 and a radius of 20 km around NPP Mochovce.

At the third national level, the Central Crisis Staff of the Government addresses an emergency if the scope of an event exceeds the territory of the region. Included on this level are emergency commissions of the licensees, which closely cooperate with activities of the local state administration. To fulfil its main task of quick mitigation and management of events, the Central Crisis Staff of the Government uses and coordinates its supporting bodies, such as the Emergency Response Centre of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic, the Radiation Monitoring Network of Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic and the Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.

The Radiation Monitoring Network is a national system of radiation monitoring and radiological data collection, created and managed by VZ SR in cooperation with designated central administration authorities. Its purpose is to assess the exposure and evaluate a potential impact of radiation on public health.

The Emergency Response Coordination Centre is a part of Crisis Management of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic and serves as a national warning point, properly staffed to receive and coordinate information to and between emergency management officials at all levels of government.

The Emergency Response Centre of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic serves as a technical support system of JD SR. Its main role is to prepare prognoses of event developments and recommendations of the public protective actions during radiological events at facilities in Slovakia or international events with possible impact on the territory of the Slovak Republic.

3.1.1.1. Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic

3.1.1.2. Role of the Regulatory Authority for Nuclear Safety

3.1.1.3. Role of the Regulatory Authority in Radiation Protection

To obtain a licence for activity in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the applicant has to demonstrate the capacity to comply with and to fulfil all the requirements set by the laws and regulations valid in'Slovakia, in particular the requirements of the Atomic Act and of the implementing regulations of JD SR hereto. The applicant must further demonstrate that the nuclear installation will be or is operated in a safe manner.

The licensing procedure for a nuclear installation consists of five main phases: siting of the nuclear installation, construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning. Before granting an operating licence, JD SR performs inspections according to the approved programme schedule for individual phases of commissioning the nuclear installation (tests, fuel loading, physical start up, energy start up and trial operation).

The basic condition for granting authorization is the elaboration and submission of safety documentation listed in annexes of the Atomic Act that is necessary for issuance of particular types of decision and meeting legislative requirements for nuclear safety. An essential criterion is also the fulfilment of conditions preceding approval procedures and decisions of JD SR.

The district construction authority issues decisions on siting of nuclear installation construction and its decision making follows the approval of JD SR and of other regulatory authorities ( VZ SR and labour inspection bodies). Authorization for nuclear installation construction, permission for temporary use of the facility (including authorization for trial operation) and a decision on construction approval (including authorization for operation of a nuclear installation) are already issued by JD SR as a construction authority. JD SR exercises its competency as a construction authority and state administration authority for nuclear safety. Its directives are based on its own decisions (partial approval of safety documentation), as well as on the opinion of relevant regulatory authorities: VZ SR (radiation protection), the National Labour Inspectorate (labour inspection and health and safety protection at work) and other bodies and organizations of state administration (e.g. for fire prevention and defence).

Documentation that must be attached to the application for issuance of certain decisions of JD SR is listed in Annexes 1 and 2 of the Atomic Act. Details concerning the scope, content and method of preparation of nuclear installation documentation needed for certain decisions are defined in JD SR Decree No. 58/2006 Coll. of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic, laying down details on the scope, contents, and manner of maintaining documentation of nuclear installations necessary for individual decisions as amended.

When authorizing activities leading to exposure or permitting service important in terms of radiation protection, VZ SR proceeds in accordance with Act No. 71/1967 Coll. on Administrative Proceedings. The basic prerequisite for issuing authorization is the submission of the required documentation and fulfilment of the requirements stipulated by Act No. 87/2018 Coll. on Radiation Protection and Amending and Supplementing Certain Acts as amended. The authorization of VZ SR for activities leading to exposure in relation to nuclear installations is not the final license for operation of a nuclear installation; however, it is a condition for issuing a license for the operation of a nuclear installation.

Legislation includes (see also www.ujd.gov.sk):

1. Act No. 541/2004 Coll. on the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy (Atomic Act) and on the amendment and alteration of several acts as amended; latest amendment: Act No. 363/2021 Coll.

2. Act No. 308/2018 Coll. on the National Nuclear Fund and on the amendments and supplements to the Atomic Act and on amendments and supplements to some acts as amended by Act No. 221/2019 Coll.; latest amendment: Act No. 221/2019 Coll.

3. Act No. 21/2007 Coll. on Dual-use Goods and Technologies and amending and supplementing certain acts as amended.

4. Act No. 137/2010 Coll. on Air Quality as amended.

5. Act No. 24/2006 Coll. on Environmental Impact Assessment and on the amendments and supplements to some acts as amended .

6. Act No. 54/2015 Coll. on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and its Financial Coverage and on amendments to certain acts as amended.

7. Act No. 91/2016 Coll. on the Criminal Liability of Legal Persons and on amendments to some acts as amended.

8. Act No. 125/2016 Coll. on Some Measures Related to the Adoption of the Civil Litigation Code, Civil Non-Litigation Code and Code of Administrative Justice and on the amendments and supplements to some acts as amended.

Implementing decrees of the Atomic Act are mainly:

1. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 48/2006 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 32/2012 Coll. laying down details on the manner of reporting operational events and events in transportation and details of ascertaining causes thereof.

2. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 51/2006 Coll. laying down details of requirements for provisions of physical protection.

3. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 52/2006 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 34/2012 Coll. and Decree No. 410/2019 Coll. on Professional Qualification.

4. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 54/2006 Coll. on Accountancy for and Control of Nuclear Material as well as Notification of Selected Activities.

5. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 55/2006 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 35/2012 Coll. and Decree No. 9/2018 laying down details on emergency planning for the event of an incident or accident.

6. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 57/2006 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 105/2016 Coll. laying down details of the requirements for the transportation of radioactive materials.

7. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 58/2006 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 31/2012 Coll. and Decree No. 155/2022 Coll. laying down details on the scope, contents, and manner of maintaining documentation of nuclear installations necessary for individual decisions.

8. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 430/2011 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 103/2016 Coll. on Nuclear Safety Requirements.

9. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 431/2011 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 154/2022 Coll. on a Quality Management System.

10. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 30/2012 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 101/2016 Coll. laying down details of requirements for managing nuclear materials, radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

11. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 33/2012 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 106/2016 Coll. and Decree No. 71/2019 Coll. on the Regular, Comprehensive and Systematic Assessment of the Nuclear Safety of Nuclear Installations.

12. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 170/2015 Coll. establishing a list of radioactive materials, their quantities and their physical and chemical parameters justifying the low risk of nuclear damage.

13. Decree of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic No. 112/2020 Coll. laying down the special materials and equipment falling under the supervision of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic.

1. Act No. 87/2018 Coll. on Radiation Protection and amending and supplementing certain acts as amended.

2. Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 96/2018 Coll. laying down the details of the operation of the Radiation Monitoring Network.

3. Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 98/2018 Coll. laying down details on reducing exposure of workers and the population from natural sources of ionizing radiation.

4. Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 99/2018 Coll. on Securing of Radiation Protection.

5. Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 100/2018 Coll. laying down details on limiting exposure from drinking water, natural mineral water and from spring water.

6. Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 101/2018 Coll. laying down details on ensuring radiation protection during medical exposure as amended by Decree No. 340/2019 Coll.