Serbia is formally entering a new phase in its energy development that could see the country with a functioning nuclear power plant on the grid after 2040. This milestone follows recent agreements with global nuclear corporations and a shift in national strategy that lifts a decades-long ban on nuclear power plant construction and positions nuclear energy as a strategic option for future baseload electricity supply.
According to Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Serbia will not immediately build a nuclear station, but preparatory work will span the next decade and a half, with technological developments — including small modular reactors (SMRs) — expected to advance significantly during this period. The goal is to complete preparatory phases by 2032, including technology selection, site identification, regulatory framework establishment, and workforce development, so that a nuclear plant could be operational in the 2040s.
Experts emphasise that Serbia is currently at a “zero reference point” in planning nuclear facilities, meaning all potential partners and technologies remain under consideration. While Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom — which has extensive experience building nuclear plants globally — has been actively engaged in discussions with Serbian officials, other international players such as French state utility EDF and organisations from the United States and South Korea are also being evaluated. Decisions on partnerships will be made based on national interest, technical merit, and cost-benefit analysis.
Dr. Slavko Dimović, Director of Serbia’s Vinča Nuclear Institute, stressed that public acceptance is a central issue in planning a nuclear power station. Before any construction can begin, Serbia must engage in broad, transparent dialogue with citizens and carefully assess public concerns about safety, environmental impact, and long-term radioactive waste management.
Regarding potential locations, Dimović explained that it is still too early to fix specific sites, but future nuclear facilities will require access to significant water resources — for reactor cooling — and are likely to be considered at or near existing industrial or energy infrastructure. Disused thermal power plant sites or major river corridors are among options under preliminary review, but these decisions will follow established methodological timelines and regulatory requirements.
Experts note that Serbia’s shift toward nuclear energy is part of broader efforts to diversify its energy mix, reduce reliance on coal and gas, and provide stable baseload capacity to support economic growth and decarbonisation targets. Nuclear energy could eventually provide a substantial share of Serbia’s electricity — with some planners suggesting up to half of domestic power production coming from nuclear sources in a balanced future energy portfolio.
