Bohunice has two units in commercial operation

France-based Newcleo has signed framework agreements with Slovakian companies JAVYS and VUJE which could lead to up to four of its 200 MWe lead-cooled fast reactors at the Bohunice site.

The agreement with JAVYS - the state-owned radioactive waste management company - establishes a joint venture tasked with "developing and constructing an Advanced Modular Reactor based nuclear power plant of up to four LFR-AS-200 reactors at the Jaslovske Bohunice V1 site in the Slovak Republic".

It will also aim to develop a nuclear fuel supply route with French government support, "with the ultimate goal of the reprocessing and use of Slovak Republic spent nuclear fuels and enables long-term multi-recycling as part of a closed fuel cycle".

The agreement with engineering company VUJE establishes a framework for technical and commercial cooperation, aiming to "leverage VUJE's decades of experience in nuclear power plant construction and commissioning, and position Slovak nuclear expertise at the forefront of the next generation of nuclear technology deployment worldwide".

Newcleo CEO Stefano Buono said: "This resounding endorsement at state level of our reactor technology and our aim to close the nuclear fuel cycle is testament to the role small and advanced modular reactors will play in securing Europe’s energy future and provides an example that could be used in other European countries, whose only other option for dealing with spent fuel would be costly long-term storage. The re-use of the existing nuclear spent fuel also guarantees hundreds of years of energy independence to Europe at competitive and stable prices. These agreements not only create opportunities for Slovak industry but also represent a paradigm shift for the entire nuclear energy sector.”

JAVYS chairman Peter Gerhart said: "We believe that utilising spent nuclear fuel in advanced reactors like Newcleo's LFR technology offers a far more sustainable and responsible solution than simply putting it in a deep geological repository. This approach not only reduces the environmental impact of nuclear waste but also provides a valuable source of energy for future generations."

Matej Korec, CEO of VUJE, said: "With over 50 years of experience in nuclear engineering, VUJE is proud to contribute our extensive expertise in the field of fast nuclear reactor technology. This collaboration with Newcleo combines our practical knowledge in nuclear power plant construction and commissioning with innovative LFR technology, positioning Slovakia at the forefront of advanced nuclear development."

According to Paris-headquartered Newcleo's delivery roadmap, the first non-nuclear pre-cursor prototype of its reactor is expected to be ready by 2026 in Italy, the first reactor operational in France by the end of 2031, while the final investment decision for the first commercial power plant is expected around 2029.