Basta writes to minister and PM: Abolish moratorium on nuclear power plants in Serbia

Photo: Beogradske Elektrane

The director of JKP (public company) Beogradske Elektrane ("Belgrade Power Plants"), Rade Basta, has sent an open letter to Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic, and Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic, urging them to consider lifting the moratorium on construction of nuclear power plants in the Republic of Serbia.

Recommended

"I am calling on Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic and Minister of Mining and Energy Zorans Mihajlovic, to reconsider lifting the moratorium on construction of nuclear power plants in the Republic of Serbia. Energy production in nuclear power plants is cheaper and cleaner compared to conventional methods of energy production. With thermal power plants, we have a huge emission of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide into the environment. The technologies that have to be installed according to the latest standards to purify waste gas are practically as expensive as the technologies themselves that produce the energy. We do not have such challenges with nuclear power plants. When everything is added up, nuclear production is cheaper, and the same is true of exploitation. The return on investment time is a bit longer, but that should not be decisive. Cheaper production, technological development, energy stability and safety and environmental protection are crucial. The first reason why nuclear energy is a deficit in the energy balance. Another reason, which is even more important, but I would like to stress it: if Serbia wants to follow the technology development and have its professionals involved in that development - then it would be good to get involved in a nuclear project," says the director of JKP Beogradske Elektrane Rade Basta, and added:

"Therefore, I call on the Government of the Republic of Serbia to lift the moratorium on construction of nuclear power plants in the Republic of Serbia and send an invitation to the United States and the European Union to open a research center for nuclear technologies in cooperation with the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Technologies, professional and expert people, but also those who need help in the transfer of knowledge and technology from the best experts in nuclear technology and to work together with them on projects that are of interest to both countries."

It is necessary to invest in education of new professionals at Serbian faculties, in order to renew the base and catch up with the modern world, especially to study more nuclear sciences at universities and nuclear engineering, according to Serbian professors in the field of nuclear physics, Basta notes.

"I believe that the United States, as the leading nuclear technology power in the world, is the right partner that can help us establish such a scientific research center, because safe reactors and cheaper electricity production are the main topic everywhere in the world. Nuclear energy for peacetime purposes is mostly used to produce electricity. Also, the nuclear industry of the United States of America has incredible results of safe and reliable work. The energy of the future is nuclear energy, because it is clean and reliable, and it is the only one that does not create the greenhouse effect during the production of electricity. Without nuclear energy, it is impossible to achieve the goals of sustainable development in the future, clean water, clean air, quality health care, and more and more countries are working to develop clean, green energy that enables sustainable growth and economic development. If Serbia decides to build a nuclear power plant, the one who would invest or from whom we would buy the technology would certainly provide education and training of the neeeded staff, nuclear fuel and all other necessary resources for the implementation of such a project of national importance," Basta said.

Telegraf Biznis recently wrote about what a nuclear facility in Serbia would mean.

(Telegraf Biznis)