OMM Newsroom
Slovakia’s Mochovce 4 nuclear reactor has begun supplying electricity to the country’s power grid. The 471-megawatt unit is expected to meet about 13% of Slovakia’s current electricity demand. AnewZ reported that Branislav Strýček, chairman of the board and chief executive of Slovenské elektrárne, announced the development.
“For the first time in history, Mochovce’s fourth unit is supplying electricity to Slovakia’s power system,” Strýček said. He said the milestone marked the culmination of decades of work to establish a new, low-emissions source of electricity.
Reactor testing continues
Mochovce 4 reached nuclear criticality on August 6. Tests were then carried out to verify that the equipment was operating as designed. As part of the start-up process, the reactor’s power began to increase gradually in September.
The grid connection was initially planned for October 13 but was postponed after an irregularity was detected in the response of voltage-measuring circuits in the plant’s non-nuclear section. The operator said some technical tests would have to be repeated.
The first turbogenerator has already been synchronized with the grid. The second turbogenerator must undergo the same process so that further tests can be conducted gradually at higher power levels.
In the final stage, the reactor must operate continuously at full power for 144 hours. Slovenské elektrárne expects the unit to enter full operation by the end of the year.
Construction of the Mochovce plant began in 1982
Construction of the Mochovce plant, which has four units, began in 1982. Work on the third and fourth reactors started in 1986 but was suspended in 1992.
The first two units began operating in 1998 and 1999. Construction of the third and fourth units resumed in 2009. The project’s initial cost was estimated at 6.7 billion euros ($7.6 billion). Mochovce 3 began commercial operation in October 2023.
Slovakia currently has five operating nuclear reactors, which generate more than 60% of the country’s electricity. Three are at Mochovce and two at the Bohunice plant.
According to Slovenské elektrárne’s estimates, once Mochovce 4 is fully operational, nuclear power could meet 77.5% of Slovakia’s electricity demand. In that case, Slovakia could have the world’s highest share of nuclear power in its electricity generation.
The Slovak government is planning to build another large nuclear reactor at Bohunice and is also examining the potential of small modular reactors.
Slovak Power Holding BV is the main shareholder in Slovenské elektrárne. The company is owned by Czech energy group Energetický a průmyslový holding. The Slovak state holds a 34% stake in the energy company.
