SLOVAKIA

1. ENERGY, ECONOMIC AND ELECTRICITY INFORMATION

1.1 General Overview

The size of the Slovak Republic is 49 036 km2 with 40% of the area situated up to the elevation of 300 m, 45% at the elevation between 300 and 800 m, and 15% at the elevation above 800 m. The lowest point is the mouth of Bodrog river at the elevation of 94 m and the highest situated point is Gerlachov peak at the elevation of 2655 m. Agricultural surface covers 49.9% from the entire Slovak territory, and forest surface 40.6%. The longest dimension in the east-west direction is 428 km and in the north-south direction 195 km. The Slovak Republic is a new country situated in the Central Europe. It was established on January 1, 1993. It is situated between 16º50'04" and 22º34'20" of east longitude, and between 47º35'55" and 49º36'54" of northern latitude (Fig. 1) in mild zone. The average annual temperature - a long-term average between 1901 and 1950 - is 10.1ºC in Bratislava and the average rainfall is 670 mm. Table 1 shows typical parameters from the Meteorological stations Jaslovské Bohunice and Mochovce.

In 2000, there were about 5.4 millions inhabitants and density of the population was 110 inhabitants per km2 (Table 2). 2.4 millions people were economically active, out of which 0.92 millions in industry and transport, 0.18 millions in agriculture, 0.49 millions in trade and services, and 0.81 millions in non-productive spheres.

FIG. 1. Map of the Slovak Republic

TABLE 1. SELECTED PARAMETERS FROM METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS IN BOHUNICE AND MOCHOVCE

Source: Country Information

TABLE 2. POPULATION INFORMATION

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database; Data & Statistics/The World Bank

1.1.1. Economic Indicators

The development of the gross domestic product (GDP) over the last ten years is shown in Table 3. The GDP and GDP per capita decreased compared with 1998. The 1996 energy consumption is shown in Fig. 2 whilst Fig. 3 shows the 1996 GDP and 1996 final energy consumption by sector. Projections of GDP in billion Slovak crowns, final energy consumption in PJ and energy requirements in PJ/billion Slovak crowns are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 3. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

(a) Data & Statistics/The World Bank (b) Millions of current US$ (c) Current US$ per capita
Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Data Base; Data&Statistics/The World Bank); Country Information.

FIG. 2. 1996 Energy Consumption

FIG. 3. 1996 GNP and final energy by Sectors

TABLE 4. CURRENT AND PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) IN CONSTANT 1990 PRICES<

Source: Country Information 1 USD @ 50 Sk

1.1.2. Energy Situation

Slovakia has only a limited amount of available domestic energy resources, i.e. brown coal, oil, natural gas and renewable resources (Table 5.1). A breakdown of the fossil fuel resources is given in Table 5.2. The energy potential of renewable resources in Slovakia is approximately 5% from the total annual consumption of primary energy resources (Table 6). Table 7.1 shows the basic energy statistics and Table 7.2 the 1999 energy balance. The historical development of primary energy consumption is given in Table 8.

TABLE 5.1. ESTIMATED ENERGY RESERVES

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

TABLE 5.2. RESOURCES OF FOSSIL FUELS IN SLOVAKIA INCLUDING PROJECTED RESOURCES

As of January 1, 1996
Source: Country Information

TABLE 6. POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES IN SLOVAKIA

Source: Country Information

TABLE 7.1. BASIC ENERGY SITUATION(*)

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

TABLE 7.2. ENERGY BALANCE IN 1999

Source: Country Information

TABLE 8. CONSUMPTION OF PRIMARY ENERGY RESOURCES

Petajoule

Source: Country Information

1.2. Energy Policy

The main goal is to achieve a necessary assurance in obtaining energy resources and to focus the Slovak energy economy on effective and environmentally friendly technologies of electricity generation, on higher use of renewables and secondary resources of energy, and on introduction of energy-saving production technologies and consumers, in which way a gradual reduction of the energy demands and of the absolute energy consumption will be provided.

The Energy Concepts for Slovakia till 2005 accepted by the Government decision No. 562/1993 define the principle objectives of and bases for the energy policy, analyze the current conditions of power economy and specify the strategy for assuring fuels and energy for the economy. These Energy Concepts were developed for the first time for the conditions of independent, national energy system. The philosophy of the concepts is based on a rational approach to both generation and consumption of electricity.

The Energy Concepts follow the concepts of industrial policy according to which the 1990 level of energy consumption will be reached between 2000 and 2003. A gradual restoration of the economic growth is expected with the increase of electricity consumption by approximately 2% annually. The approach to the assurance of resources that will meet the requirements of consumption has been changed drastically.

The fundamental strategic goal of the energy policy is to ensure fuel and energy for all consumers. The energy shall be:
i) produced with the lowest costs and impacts on the environment;
ii) transported to the consumer safely and reliably and in the quality required;
iii) used in the field of generation, transport and consumption as effective as possible.
One of energy policy priorities is to restore sound environment by reducing emissions of polluting materials in line with the accepted multilateral Convention on Remote Atmosphere Pollution from 1979 in Geneva, the protocols from Helsinki and Sofia on reduction of SO2 and NOx emissions, as well as the Declaration from The Hague. The following commitments resulted for Slovakia from the above documents:
i) to reduce SO2 emissions by 30% in comparison with 1990 till 1993;
ii) not to exceed the level of annual NOx emissions in 1987 by the end of 1994;
iii) to reduce CO2 production by 20% against 1988 till 2005.

These specified tasks (only I) and ii)) in the power industry have been fulfilled up to now and there are expectations for their further successful fulfillment within the framework of the accepted "Energy Concepts of the Slovak Republic till 2005". Table 9 shows the emissions of steam power plants from SE a.s.

TABLE 9. EFFLUENTS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT FROM STEAM POWER PLANTS OF SE
Thousands tons

Source: Country Information.

The fundamental document, defining main targets, directions and framework of power development, is the Power Policy of the Slovak Republic approved by the Slovak government decree No. 5 dated 12 January 2000.
The power policy defines the framework for new orientation of the power sector and has three pillars:
1. preparation for the integration into internal markets of the European Union,
2. security in power supplies,
3. sustainable development.

The main target of the preparation for integration into the EU internal markets is transformation of the power sector into a compatible one that is able and prepared to be incorporated into a united European market. The power sector transformation is conditioned by meeting the basic measures: restructuralization and privatization of power utilities, establishment of independent regulatory authority, making energy prices more realistic for all categories of consumers, completion and approval of legislation adapting power sector.

The intentions of the power policy are as follows:
· create competitive power sector able to access EU;
· establish conditions for stakeholders to enter electricity grid and to create competitive environment;
· minimize involvement of the state in the direct control of the sector;
· ensure non-discriminating and transparent conditions for all subjects participating in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of power;
· make possible a gradual liberalization of power market for legitimate customers.

Another important measure related to nuclear power sector is the governmental decree on the closure of the two oldest units at the Bohunice V-1 nuclear power plant (EBO) in 2006 and 2008, respectively. By implementing a programme of modernization and safety upgrading of the V-2 Bohunice nuclear power plant, extension of the V-2 design lifetime will be enabled with the high level of safety maintained. The decision on the completion of Mochovce units 3 and 4 will depend on the interest of a strategic partner, as no guaranty of the state is possible.
In the field of electric power sector it is expected that a major part in the increase of electricity demand will be covered by developing the production of independent generators, mainly based on steam-gas cycle.

The development of heat supply systems, based mainly on centralized methods of heat supply for communal consumption and industrial technology processes, will depend on accelerated elimination of deformations in the prices of electricity and natural gas. The process of making these prices more realistic has been already launched according to a time schedule accepted. A profitable geography position and significant location of Slovakia in regard to transit of natural gas through its territory into Western Europe create good preconditions for building a "Gas Centre" with European-wide importance. Notwithstanding the high level of reliability of gas supply from the Russian Federation, it will be necessary to look for possibilities in diversification of gas imports from other territories. A similar suitable situation relates to the strategic assurance of oil imports. In line with EU legislation and with a bill under preparation on mandatory reserves of oil products, capacities for the storage of mandatory oil reserves (90-day reserve) will be gradually built. Based on a government decision to use preferentially for electricity production (up to the amount of 10% from total electricity consumption) domestic brown coal, that is the only significant fuel source, gradual extraction of coal and lignite resources in line with mining capabilities will be made possible. Protection of the environment is one of determining factors of the power policy. The legislation framework in effect and international obligations of Slovakia in the area of reduction of the production of emission materials provide the starting point for the acceptance of programs for emission reduction and increased utilization of renewable resources. For the implementation of these programs, coordinated progress of a number of industrial sectors and incorporation into practice of system measures in the field of tax and price policies, ecology and legislation is needed.

1.3 The Electricity System

1.3.1. Structure of the Electricity Sector

The dominant producer of electricity in Slovakia has been the utility Slovak Electric (SE) Inc. which is owned by the National Property Fund as a share-holding company (see Fig. 4 for its structure).

About 90% of the distribution and sale of electricity is done by regional energy enterprises shown in Table 10. The power grid operates within the framework of the Central Regional Net (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia). In October 1995, a long-term trial test of the joint operation with the UCPTE started.

TABLE 10. DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICITY
(GW·h)

Source: Country Information.

1.3.2. Decision Making Process

The development of the power sector has been implemented based on the Power Concepts of the Slovak Republic approved by the Slovak Government. The organization responsible for the development is the SE utility together with power distribution enterprises (Fig. 4).

1.3.3. Main Indicators

In 2000, the electricity production from SE was 26.3 TW·h (about 85%) and from other producers 4.6 TW·h (15%). The group of other producers consists mainly of energy generators in factories (auto producers). The development of electricity production and fuel consumption is given in Table 11 and also shown in Fig. 5. Table 12 shows the installed electrical capacity and Fig. 6 its share according to plant type. Fig. 7 shows the annual load follow curve of the Slovak electricity system.

BODIES OF SE

- General Assembly
- Supervisory Board
- Board of Directors

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF SE UTILITY AS OF JANUARY 1, 2001

Fig. 4. Structure of the Slovak Electric utility (SE)

TABLE 11. DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
TW·h

Source: Country Information

TABLE 12. INSTALLED ELECTRICAL CAPACITY

Source: Country Information

Fig. 5. Development of Electricity Generation

Fig. 6. Share of Power Plant Capacity in Slovakia 2001

Fig. 7. Annual Load Follow Curve of the Slovak Electricity System

2. NUCLEAR POWER SITUATION

2.1. Historical Development and current nuclear power organizational structure

2.1.1 Overview

A-1 Bohunice:

1956 Intergovernmental agreement between the former USSR and CSSR on the construction of an industrial-research nuclear power plant on the territory of CSSR.
1957 Establishment of an investment enterprise Nuclear Power Plant A-1 by the decision of the Governmental Committee for Nuclear Energy and of the Authority for Nuclear Power Management.
1958 Beginning of A-1 construction.
1972 The research and development reactor KS 150 at A-1 reached criticality. Gradual increase of the electric output up to the maximum value of 127 MW. Connection of A-1 to the electric grid.
1976 First serious incident at the KS-150 reactor.
1977 The decisive severe accident during reactor refuelling.
1978 Decision of CSSR government to decommission A-1.
1992 Slovak government accepted the global concepts of A-1 decommissioning.
1998 Expected to bring A-1 into safe radiation conditions (The first phase ending in 2007).
2007 Completion of the first phase of A-1 decommissioning.
V-1 Bohunice:
1969 Decision of the State Planning Commission of CSSR based on an agreement with USSR to start the construction of nuclear power plants with pressurized water reactors of VVER 440 type.
1970 Decision of CSSR and USSR governments to supply two nuclear power plants each with two VVER reactors 440 MW.
1971 Establishment of affiliated organization in Jaslovské Bohunice.
1973 Laying of foundation stone for the construction of main production building.
1978 V-1 Unit 1 reactor made critical.
1979 Commissioning of V-1 Unit 1 into trial operation.
1980 Commissioning of V-1 Unit 1 into commercial operation. V-1 Unit 2 reactor made critical. Commissioning of V-1 Unit 2 into trial operation.
1981 Commissioning of V-1 Unit 2 into commercial operation.
1984 Re-evaluation of V-1 safety.
1986 Other safety measures to enhance nuclear safety.
1990 Execution of reviews to evaluate V-1 conditions.
1991 CSKAE Decision about V-1 operation based on implementation of additional safety measures.
1991-1995 Implementation of Phase 1 measures to upgrade safety by backfitting V-1 units.
1995-2000 Implementation of Phase 2 measures with the objective to achieve European standards and maintain V-1 in operation.
V-2 Bohunice:
1976 Agreement signed with USSR on the construction of V-2 in Jaslovské Bohunice. Beginning of V-2 construction.
1984 V-2 Unit 1 reactor made critical. Commissioning of V-2 Unit 1 into trial operation.
1985 Commissioning of V-2 Unit 1 into commercial operation. V-2 Unit 2 reactor made critical. Commissioning of V-2 Unit 2 into trial operation. Commissioning of V-2 Unit 2 into commercial operation.
2000 Concept of modernization with safety upgrading.
Mochovce:
1974 Preparatory studies, survey works, sociology survey.
1978 Federal Ministry of Fuel and Power approved an investment intention to construct two twin-reactor units with the capacity of 440 MW each.
1981 Physical start of Mochovce construction.
1983 Establishment of a concern enterprise Atomic Power Plants Mochovce with its headquarters in Mochovce.
1989 The original deadline for Mochovce Unit 1 commissioning failed to be met due to necessary replacement of inadequate instrumentation and control system.
1995 The way of funding the construction of Mochovce Units 1 and 2 was still open, construction and installation works continued in a minimum extent only. (The funding of Mochovce completion was resolved by the Government Decision No.339/96 dated May 14,1996).
1998 Unit 1 reactor reached criticality. Commissioning of Unit 1 into trial operation.
1999 Unit 2 reactor reached criticality.
2000 Commissioning of Unit 2 into trial operation. Completion of units 3 and 4 suspended since 1994.

2.1.2 Current Organizational Chart(s)

Fig. 9 shows the structure of institutions involved in nuclear power sector.

Fig. 9. Slovak Institutions involved in the nuclear sector

2.2. Nuclear Power Plants: Status and Operations

The decision on the orientation of the Slovak power industry in regard to the utilization of nuclear power made in seventies resulted from the status of useable reserves of primary energy resources that in no case could meet the demand on electricity. The construction of the V-1 Bohunice Plant (EBO Units 1, 2) with V-230 reactor types started in 1972 and the construction of the V-2 Bohunice Plant (EBO Units 3, 4) with V-213 reactors in 1976.

Four nuclear units are in operation in Bohunice, and two in Mochovce with a total capacity of 2.2 GWe. In 1998 the units produced 11.4 TW·h and the nuclear share was about 45% of the electricity production in our country. The Slovak Electric utility (Slovenske Elektrarne - SE), that operates the Bohunice nuclear power plant, was transformed in 1994. Two of the Bohunice units are of the older type of Soviet-designed VVER-440/230 pressurized water reactors. After an extensive program for upgrading these units carried out from 1991 to 2000, which brought them up to international safety standard levels, they were expected to be operated till 2015. Two other Bohunice units are of the more recent VVER-440/213 design which incorporate most of safety features of non-Soviet-type reactors. However, a program of further safety enhancement of these units has been undertaken in co-operation with Western European companies following the recommendations of the Slovak safety authority and the IAEA, see later in this Section.

Based on studies of further development of nuclear power in the former CSFR and following a lengthy decision making process, the construction of another nuclear power plant with four VVER 440 units with V-213 type reactors on the Mochovce site (EMO Units 1 to 4) started in April 1981. With regard to conceptually non-clarified questions of automatic control of production processes and nuclear safety, the completion of Unit 1, originally planned for 1985, has been gradually postponed and the process of its completion has not been completed on time.

Based on a decision of the Slovak government, in the first phase Mochovce-1 was completed in 1998 and Mochovce-2 in 2000. For the completion of Mochovce-1, 2, contracts have been signed with the following organizations: Atomenergoexport, Electricité de France, Energoprojekt Prague, EUCOM (Siemens AG, Framatome SA), Hydrostav Bratislava, ŠKODA Prague, VÚJE Trnava, and Zarubezhatomenergostroj. The Slovak government took over guarantees for bank loans for the Mochovce-1, 2 completion.

Table 13 presents some basic operating data and Table 14 shows the status of nuclear power plants in the Slovak Republic. The costs of one MW·h delivered from EBO 1, 2 and EBO 3, 4 and EMO 1 are calculated including 10 per cent contribution to the State Fund for Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations.

TABLE 13. BASIC DATA OF OPERATING NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Source: Country Information

These costs are approximately half in comparison with the costs of coal-burning steam power plants in SR. The costs of fossil plants represent more than 1000 Sk per one MW·h delivered in average. From the total electricity generated in SR in 2000, nuclear power plants generated 53%.

TABLE 14. STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Source: IAEA Power Reactor Information System as of 31 December 2002.

Backfitting of Existing Nuclear Power Plants

Reactor Type V-1
2x440 MW VVER V-230

Based on recommendations from IAEA and EC experts, the so called "small backfitting" of V-1 was carried out between 1991 and 1992, with the costs of 2 million Sk, and focused mainly on:
· improving confinement integrity;
· upgrading seismic resistance;
· analyzing reactor pressure vessel life;
· backfitting fire protection systems;
· annealing reactor pressure vessels;
· installing another diesel generator and new distributions of essential power supply;
· verifying validity of the "leak before break" (LBB) principle at reactor coolant system.

The implementation of these actions was a prerequisite for the operation of the V-1 plant till 1995. According to the ÚJD SR Decision No.1/94, the prerequisite for further operation after 1995 was to implement the so called "gradual upgrading" between 1996 to 2000 with the costs of 8.000 million Sk. The content of the gradual upgrading was as follows:
· further improvement of confinement integrity;
· modifications of core cooling during both operation and loss of coolant accidents;
· modifications of emergency power supply for cooling systems, and of instrumentation and control systems;
· enhancement of the levels of quality assurance, safety, operating procedures, documents for personnel training, emergency planning etc.

The implementation of the gradual upgrading was completed in line with the schedule approved by the ÚJD SR. The V-1 nuclear safety thus achieved the level acceptable for early nuclear power plants according to both IAEA and WENRA reviews. During negotiations on Slovak accession to the EU, the Slovak government agreed to close the V-1 unit 1 in 2006 and the V-1 unit 2 in 2008.

Reactor Type V-2
EBO - 2 x 440 MW VVER 213

A similar programme will be implemented with the objective to upgrade V-2 seismic resistance and nuclear safety focused mainly on:
· modification of reactor coolant system, essential power supply, instrumentation and control system;
· strengthening of seismic resistance;
· improving of fire protection efficiency;
· enhancement of the levels of quality assurance, safety, operating procedures, documents for personnel training, emergency planning etc.

The ultimate goal for V-2 is to establish conditions for extending its design life up to 40 years, i.e. till 2025.

EMO - 2 x 440 MW VVER 213

The ÚJD SR issued operating licenses for the Mochovce Units 1 and 2.

2.3 Supply of NPPs

The main domestic producer and supplier of selected components of pressure systems (separators, piping) for nuclear power plants is the Slovak Power Engineering Works (SES) in Tlmace and the Piping Company in Kosice. The supplier of civil construction works is the Hydrostav Bratislava.

The main foreign suppliers are Atomenergoexport (Russia), ŠKODA and EGP (Czech Republic). Well-known Western firms (EdF, Framatome) cooperated with them during Mochovce completion and Bohunice upgrading.

2.4 Operation of NPPs

The owner of the Bohunice and Mochovce plants is the utility Slovak Electric (SE). The operators of these six units are SE affiliations Nuclear Power Plants Bohunice (EBO) and NPPs Mochovce (EMO). The Nuclear Power Plants Bohunice have built their own technical and professional capacities for the performance of maintenance activities. The execution of specialized activities is ordered by EBO and EMO from manufacturers of these components, or from specialized firms. The training of nuclear personnel, i.e. operators and maintenance and decommissioning personnel, is carried out by the Training Center in the VÚJE Trnava, Inc. - Engineering, Design and Research Organization. VÚJE performs professional, practical and theoretical training of nuclear power plant personnel in six categories based on the Certificate No. 1/94 from the ÚJD SR. The Category 1 is designed for selected personnel, e.g. operators, control physicists and reactor unit supervisors. Following successful graduation from theoretical and practical training, trainees obtain certificates. For the performance of a function, the Category 1 personnel have to obtain a ÚJD license that has to be renewed each two or three years depending on the function.

2.5 Fuel Cycle and Waste Management

Procurement of New Nuclear Fuel

All the fuel for the operation of six VVER-440 units in Slovakia has been fabricated in the Russian Federation and delivered by a monopoly Russian supplier. The supplier also takes care of the provision of natural uranium, its conversion and enrichment. No diversification is currently planned in the procurement of new fuel for the needs of the Slovak nuclear sector.

The VVER-440/213 units of the newer generation at Bohunice V-2 and Mochovce will be converted in order to use advanced fuel with higher enrichment (3.82%) and higher burnup (i.e. the fuel will stay about 5 years in the reactor) from 2001 onwards. This will result in a reduction of annual consumption of fuel to 84 assemblies (10 tU/year). Fuel storage on plant sites is maintained at the level corresponding to 6-month operation at the rated power level.

Management of Spent Fuel

By the end of 2000, the six Slovak VVER-440 units used 7 300 spent fuel assemblies. From this amount, approximately 700 assemblies were exported to the Russian Federation, 1 200 were cooled down in pools adjacent to the reactors, and 5 400 pieces were stored in a wet interim spent fuel storage facility at the Bohunice site. This facility was extensively refurbished during 1997-2000. The refurbishment resulted also in a capacity increase from 5 000 up to 14 000 fuel assemblies (or 1 680 tU). This capacity is sufficient for the fuel storage needs of both Bohunice till its expected closure and of Mochovce till 2015. By that time, it will be necessary to build a new storage facility at the Mochovce site. According to current intentions, the facility will probably be based on the dry storage technology.

The fundamental conception for the back end fuel cycle management remains unchanged. It is still expected that spent fuel will be ultimately disposed in a deep underground geological repository. Activities on the selection of an adequate site are thus continuing.

Treatment Disposal of Radwaste

The whole amount of radioactive waste from the past operation of the Bohunice units is stored temporarily on the site. The concepts of radwaste management from nuclear power installations and other organizations using sources of ionization radiation were prepared in 1993. The following production process fixing facilities have been constructed or are being built:
· A bitumenization facility for fixing concentrates was commissioned in 1995;
· A vitrification facility is in the stage of active comprehensive testing;
· A radwaste-processing center consists of a cementation facility with a possibility to densify concentrates, of a high-pressure pressing and of an incineration installation.

All low- and medium-level radwaste from Bohunice will be stored in fiber-concrete containers. To make the system of radwaste management complete, it was necessary to commission the operation of a disposal facility for low- and medium-level radwaste at the Mochovce site in 2000.

Material and Financial Provision of Radwaste Management

A new daughter plant of the SE utility with the name Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations and Management of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel (SE-VYZ) has commenced its activities on January 1, 1996. The new plant is located on the site of the Bohunice nuclear power plants. Its field of activities is spread over the whole Slovakia and it will be responsible for the ultimate disposal of all kinds of radwaste and spent fuel that have been and will be produced on the Slovak territory from the operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants, as well as for early and complete preparation of designs and facilities and for executing of the above mentioned activities. Besides that, the new plant will provide the disposal of institutional radwaste from other organizations. The plant activities will be financed from the budget of the SE utility and from the State Fund for Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations and Management of Spent Fuel and Radwaste. This fund was established in 1995. The money has been accumulated from contributions amounting to 10 percent from the selling price of electricity supplied from nuclear power plants. The payment of this contribution is the responsibility of the nuclear power plant owner. From this fund, it is possible to take finances for the preparation and decommissioning of nuclear power installations, and for the management of spent fuel and radwaste related to nuclear power installation decommissioning, provided that approval of the Board of the State Fund for Decommissioning is given.

According to the projected electricity supply from nuclear power plants in Slovakia, the contributions to the State Fund for Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations and Management of Spent Fuel and Radwaste should provide approximately 30.8 billion Sk by 2010 including the interest rate of 6 per cent. This amount should be sufficient according to calculations performed for the construction of a long-term spent fuel storage installation with the costs of approximately 4.2 billion Sk and for the decommissioning of the V-1 plant following the completion of its economical life in the amount of about 10.0 billion Sk, and for other investment actions in this field. Establishment of the State Fund for Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations and Management of Spent Fuel and Radwaste should go in advance prior to its use, and the decommissioning of nuclear power installations and management of radwaste should be assured by finances without any other requests on the state budget of SR or other sources of SE.

2.6 Research and Development

The goal of nuclear research and development complex is to establish a research and development basis for state authorities, manufacturers and suppliers of process equipment for nuclear power installations and for nuclear power plant operators. As regards its structure, it includes basic research concentrated in the Slovak Academy of Sciences and at universities in a lesser extent, and applied research in a larger extent which provides the object of activities of independent research institutes (share-holding companies and companies with limited responsibilities) and sections of industrial organizations (Table 15).

With regard to financial aspects, the applied research is ensured by:
· projects of state orders;
· scientific and technical projects;
· orders from manufacture and supplier organizations, as well as from the operators of nuclear power installations.

2.7 International Co-operation and Initiatives

In the field of international co-operation, the most significant co-operation is with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, with the European Union within the PHARE programs and the 5th Framework Program (EURATOM), and last but not least also bilateral co-operation with international institutions and organizations. Slovakia co-operates by means of the IAEA with international subjects on:
· solution of research projects financed from a fund for technical co-operation;
· national projects within the framework of coordinated research with financial support from the IAEA;
· organization of international courses and seminars

The international co-operation with the EU goes within the framework of research and development programs of the European Community focused mainly on the 5th Framework Program and PHARE programs. The PHARE programs in the field of nuclear safety in relation to the EU are coordinated by the Slovak Ministry of Economy.

The Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (ÚJD SR) is a participant in discussions on regional and national programs in the field of nuclear safety. The national projects in this field are addressed since 1993 as regional ones in order to use the funds more effectively.

TABLE 15. SLOVAK TECHNICAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS IN NUCLEAR SECTOR