Serbia is increasingly positioning nuclear energy as a cornerstone of its long-term electricity strategy, with government officials outlining plans for the country’s first nuclear power plant to be operational around 2040. The project, still in its early conceptual phase, would represent one of the largest infrastructure investments in Serbia’s modern history and a decisive shift in the country’s energy policy.
The initiative gained momentum after Serbia lifted a decades-long moratorium on nuclear energy development in 2024, opening the door for the country to begin planning a civilian nuclear program. The decision reflected growing concerns about future electricity demand, energy security and the gradual retirement of coal-fired power plants that currently dominate Serbia’s electricity generation mix.
Government officials argue that nuclear power could provide the stable “baseload” generation needed to complement renewable energy sources while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
A €10 billion project
According to the Ministry of Mining and Energy, the construction of Serbia’s first nuclear power plant could require around €10 billion in total investment, making it one of the most expensive energy projects ever undertaken in the country.
The cost estimate includes not only the construction of the reactor itself but also the development of supporting infrastructure, institutional capacity, regulatory bodies and technical expertise required to operate a nuclear energy program.
Officials note that nuclear plants involve very high initial capital costs but can operate for 50 to 70 years or more, delivering electricity at stable production costs once the facility enters service.
For Serbia, such long-term generation capacity is seen as essential for maintaining energy security as electricity consumption increases.
Timeline: From planning to construction
The current roadmap suggests that Serbia intends to move gradually toward nuclear energy over the next two decades.
The government’s strategic planning framework foresees that the country could finalize technology selection and regulatory preparations by around 2032, allowing construction to begin before 2035.
If the schedule proceeds as planned, the first nuclear reactor could be connected to the national grid around 2040.
Such timelines are typical for nuclear projects, which often require 15–20 years from initial planning to commissioning due to regulatory approvals, engineering complexity and financing arrangements.
The eventual capacity of Serbia’s first nuclear facility has not yet been determined. Government officials have indicated that the reactor could range between 1,000 MW and 1,650 MW, depending on the technology chosen and the configuration of the power plant.
Choosing the technology
Serbia has not yet decided which nuclear technology it will adopt.
Preliminary studies prepared with international partners—reportedly including cooperation with French nuclear companies—have examined several technological pathways. These include both conventional large nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), which have recently attracted global interest due to their smaller scale and potentially lower upfront costs.
The analysis also considers how nuclear generation would fit within Serbia’s existing electricity system, which is currently dominated by coal power plants operated by the national utility EPS (Elektroprivreda Srbije).
Coal still accounts for around 60 % of Serbia’s electricity production, but the country faces growing pressure to reduce emissions and modernize its energy mix as part of the broader European energy transition.
Nuclear power as a response to rising electricity demand
Government officials say the long-term energy strategy reflects expectations that electricity demand will grow significantly in the coming decades.
The expansion of digital infrastructure, data centers, electric mobility and artificial intelligence is expected to increase electricity consumption across Europe. Serbia is preparing for similar trends while also planning to gradually reduce reliance on aging coal plants.
Within this context, nuclear energy is seen as a potential stabilizing force in the power system.
Unlike wind and solar generation, nuclear power can operate continuously and produce electricity more than 90 % of the time at full capacity, providing a reliable supply regardless of weather conditions.
This characteristic makes nuclear energy particularly valuable for balancing electricity systems with large shares of intermittent renewable energy.
Institutional and technical challenges
Despite the government’s ambitions, launching a nuclear program presents enormous institutional challenges.
Serbia currently lacks many of the regulatory institutions, technical workforce and safety frameworks required to build and operate nuclear power plants. Establishing these capacities will require years of preparation, including cooperation with international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The government has already begun creating specialized bodies responsible for overseeing nuclear development and strengthening education programs to train engineers and technicians.
Building a nuclear power sector will therefore involve not only constructing a power plant but also developing an entire ecosystem of regulators, research institutions and industrial capabilities.
A strategic energy turning point
For Serbia, the nuclear option represents a potential turning point in the country’s energy strategy.
The country is currently in the middle of a major investment cycle aimed at modernizing its electricity sector, including new renewable projects, grid upgrades and gas-fired power plants designed to stabilize the system as coal capacity declines.
Within this broader transition, nuclear energy could eventually provide the long-term baseload generation needed to sustain economic growth while supporting decarbonization goals.
Whether Serbia ultimately builds its first nuclear power plant by 2040 will depend on several factors: financing conditions, technology partnerships, regulatory readiness and public acceptance.
What is already clear, however, is that the discussion has moved from theoretical debate toward concrete planning. The country that once banned nuclear energy development is now seriously considering entering the global nuclear renaissance—an ambitious step that could reshape Serbia’s electricity system for decades to come.
