Government Adopts Memorandum – Strategic Partnership on Nuclear Energy with French Company

The Government of Serbia has adopted the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Serbia and the French power company Electricite de France (EDF) about establishing the framework for a long-term dialogue and cooperation in the field of energy transition and low-carbon technology, which, as announced, among other things, creates the conditions for a strategic partnership in estimating the potentials for the development of a nuclear civil program in Serbia.

– The memorandum creates the conditions for a strategic partnership with Electricite de France (EDF) in estimating the potentials for the development of a nuclear civil program in Serbia, with support to the development of expert staff and the sharing of technical knowledge. Also, EDF has expressed an interest in cooperation with Elektroprivreda Srbije in the development of new hydro power plants and the revitalization of the existing ones, as well as hydro power plants of regional interest, to the end of securing the energy security of Serbia by implementing the best international standards in the fields of the environment, technology and practice – said the minister of mining and energy of Serbia, Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, and added that the memorandum envisaged the possibility of cooperation in the development of energy storage solutions, primarily batteries and green hydrogen, and solutions for an efficient use of the produced energy.

Earlier that day, Djedovic Handanovic met at the Government of Serbia with the ambassador of France to Serbia, Pierre Cochard, with whom she talked about the preparation of the upcoming visit of the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, to the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, and cooperation in the field of energy.

– As president Aleksandar Vucic stated recently, we are talking with France about strategic cooperation in many fields, among which energy is one of the most important ones. Due to the growing demand for electrical energy which will quadruple by 2050, as well as decarbonization in the energy sector, we are considering the use of nuclear energy, which is the only one that can secure base energy and compliance with the net-zero concept. France gets around 70% of electrical energy from nuclear energy and it is important that the two presidents will talk about this topic at the moment when many countries are considering an increased role of nuclear energy in strengthening energy security and the solving of climate challenges – the minister said.

She pointed out that, due to the implementation of the moratorium on nuclear energy, Serbia didn’t have enough experts in this field, but that, in the next period, there would be intensive talks with the Ministry of Science, science and technical faculties, science institutes and other institutions in the country in order to improve the capacities necessary for the preparation and realization of such projects.

– It is also an opportunity to bring back numerous educated young people to the country, who could provide support to the energy security of Serbia, because we will have to secure new capacities in the next years and decades – said Djedovic Handanovic.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Ambasada Republike Francuske Beograd

Ministarstvo nauke, tehnološkog razvoja i inovacija Republike Srbije

Electricite de France

EDF

Pierre Cochard

Dubravka Đedović Handanović

Emmanuel Macron

Aleksandar Vučić

strategic partnership for nuclear energy