Over a month ago, Serbian authorities announced plans to convert more than ten public enterprises into limited liability companies (LLCs), including Nuclear Facilities of Serbia. This move has sparked concerns about the potential privatization of critical state assets.
Physicist Slobodan Bubnjević and Nuclear Perspective editor Stefan Aleksić commented on the issue, highlighting the strategic importance of nuclear energy for national energy independence and security. Aleksić emphasized that nuclear energy is globally significant due to its ability to provide stable, reliable power, unlike intermittent renewable sources.
Nuclear Facilities of Serbia was originally established within the Vinča Institute over a decade ago to manage decommissioning and nuclear waste. Bubnjević noted that the enterprise has had limited impact on nuclear safety, citing reduced technical capacity and past corruption issues. He questioned the rationale behind its conversion into a commercial entity.
Privatization proponents argue that transforming public enterprises into private companies could increase efficiency, reduce losses, and ensure professional management. However, Aleksić and Bubnjević warn that privatizing strategic sectors like nuclear energy risks prioritizing profit over societal needs and undermines national control over critical infrastructure.
Aleksić pointed out that global tech giants, such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, are increasingly driving demand for electricity, which could push privatized energy systems toward serving corporate interests rather than national needs. Bubnjević stressed the importance of strong, independent regulators to prevent conflicts of interest between producers and regulators, citing historical nuclear accidents as cautionary examples.
Both experts agree that privatization could compromise Serbia’s ability to manage its energy system according to public needs, particularly given the strategic and high-cost nature of nuclear energy infrastructure.
