Country nuclear fuel cycle profile: Slovakia

Four WWER nuclear reactors are in operation at the Bohunice nuclear power plant and 2 at the Mochovce nuclear power plant. Their total capacity is 2.6 GW(e). The heavy water moderated, gas cooled reactor at Jaslovske Bohunice started operation in 1972, but after an accident in 1977 its operation was stopped. The first WWER reactor started operation in 1978. Nuclear generation accounted for 65% of the country's total electricity production in 2002. The plan to construct 2 new WWER reactors at the Mochovce nuclear power plant is currently under evaluation. Slovakia has not yet decided about its nuclear fuel cycle policy. In the 1960s and 1970s small quantities of uranium were mined in eastern Slovakia. Until 1987 some spent fuel was returned to the Russian Federation. The AFR storage facility at Jaslovske Bohunice started operation in 1987. Its total storage capacity is 1693 t HM