Serbia in talks with Russia to build its first nuclear power plant

Serbia has initiated discussions with Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, to construct a nuclear power plant (NPP) in the Balkan nation, according to a report by Russian daily Izvestia on 17 September and Serbia’s ambassador to Moscow, Momčilo Babić.

This move follows Serbia’s parliament lifting a decades-long ban on nuclear power plant construction in November 2024, originally imposed in 1989 after the Chernobyl disaster.

Serbia’s energy needs and nuclear ambitions

Babić, Serbia’s envoy to Moscow, emphasised the urgency of the project, stating, “We’re seriously discussing this with Rosatom. I don’t think there’s a better company in the world for building a nuclear power plant. I’m confident there will be progress in the coming years because we need electricity.”

Serbia’s energy demand is projected to quadruple by 2050, driven by robust economic growth—3.8% GDP increase in 2023 and 3.9% in 2024. Currently, over 85% of Serbia’s energy supply relies on coal, oil, and gas, making nuclear energy a critical component for energy security, especially as the EU plans to phase out Russian oil and gas imports by 2028.

Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, announced in July the development of a national program for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

A preliminary technical study by French state-owned energy firm Électricité de France (EDF) and consultancy Egis Industries estimated that Serbia requires approximately €30 million for the initial phases of its nuclear program, including pre-feasibility studies, preparatory work for contracting and construction, and establishing legal and regulatory frameworks.

These phases are expected to take five to seven years, after which construction could begin.

Rosatom’s role and offerings

Rosatom offers to Serbia a range of nuclear technologies, from small modular reactors (SMRs) based on RITM-200 designs with a capacity of 55 MW to high-capacity Generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors, which are used in flagship projects in Hungary, Turkey, and Egypt.

Marija Deurić, head of Rosatom’s Serbia office, highlighted the reliability and efficiency of these technologies, stating, “Our technologies have already proven their reliability and efficiency both in Russia and at foreign facilities.”

A 2019 cooperation agreement between Serbia and Rosatom laid the groundwork for joint projects, including the development of nuclear energy infrastructure, research reactors, nuclear medicine, and fundamental research.

During a May meeting in Moscow between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev noted that the visit marked “the beginning of a new stage of work with Serbia regarding the possible placement of nuclear power plants.” Likhachev later stated, “From today, nuclear energy is actually included in the official agenda of Russian-Serbian relations.”

Vučić, during a 1 September meeting with Putin in Beijing, underscored the importance of Russian cooperation, stating, “All Russian companies are welcome, including Rosatom and many others who would like to participate in infrastructure projects in Serbia.”

While Rosatom is a frontrunner, Serbia is also exploring partnerships with other countries. In September the Serbian government signed two memorandums of understanding with South Korea’s KHNP, which recently won a tender for the reconstruction of Romania’s Cernavodă NPP.

Additionally, Serbia is considering cooperation with France and China. Minister Đedović Handanović emphasised an open approach, stating, “Serbia will consider cooperating with partners from different countries, including France, Russia, China, and South Korea.”

Sources: SeeNews, Beta, BGNES

Caption: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Director General Alexey Likhachev attend a meeting with nuclear industry personnel during a visit to the Russian Federal Nuclear Centre – All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics (VNIIEF) in Sarov, Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia, 22 August 2025. EPA/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL MANDATORY CREDIT