February the 13th, 2024 – Might Croatia have nuclear reactors in ten or so years? A nuclear energy working group says that there’s potential.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a working group for nuclear energy has been established within the Ministry of Economy. The primary goal of the group will be to draft a law and push for the construction of small modular nuclear reactors, which could appear in Croatia in ten years at the very earliest.
Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar stated this week that the establishment of the aforementioned working group for nuclear energy is related to the amendment, or rather the adoption, of the law on nuclear energy. He stated that there are certain legislative solutions that need to be modified, or adapted to new achievements in science and technology. The idea that Croatia could get its proverbial hands on nuclear reactors in the coming decade will likely arouse an array of reactions.
The minister claimed that this entire process will be approached systematically and each step will be carefully planned. After the law is adopted, it will be necessary to establish a nuclear energy agency as a regulatory body. Šušnjar noted that it’s worth remembering that nuclear energy is a low-carbon base energy from which green hydrogen and other clean energy sources can be produced.
He announced that faculties that have a nuclear energy major will revitalise these subjects in order to restore their importance, and not make them elective subjects only. “The profession will determine which areas of Croatia, that is, locations, would be the most suitable for the construction of small modular nuclear reactors, which still don’t exist anywhere in developed Europe,” noted Šušnjar.
These plans, he stated, don’t include large power plants, but the profession will still give an opinion on everything related to the topic at hand.
“This working group was established because it’s an absolutely crucial matter for the future, as well as for the ongoing sovereignty and independence of Croatia. We need to keep in mind that Croatia is a member of the nuclear alliance, which includes most EU Member States,” concluded the economy minister.
