Strycek: 4th Block at Mochovce Should Supply Electricity to Grid in Early 2026

Bratislava, February 8 (TASR) - The completion of the fourth reactor block of Mochovce nuclear power plant in Nitra region is proceeding according to plan, stated general director and board chairman of power utility Slovenske elektrarne (SE) Branislav Strycek, adding that fuel loading should take place in the last quarter of this year and electricity should start to be supplied to the grid at the beginning of 2026. "As far as reactor four is concerned, I'm very happy to say that in 2024 we were absolutely on schedule, we have no delay. Those problems that were on unit three were solved on unit four, because we solved them simultaneously on both units, they have been eliminated," he stressed. Strycek pointed out that in December, the fourth reactor block passed an important milestone, a so-called cold hydro test. Other types of tests will follow. "We expect that fuel loading should occur in the last quarter of 2025... But by the time you connect it to the grid, you have to be at 20-percent capacity, and that takes some two, three months. So in the beginning of 2026 we should start supplying electricity to the grid," stated the SE head. Although Slovakia is already self-sufficient in electricity on a year-round level, the completion of Mochovce reactor block 4 has its significance, according to him, explaining that, for example, Slovakia imports electricity in summer, when there are shutdowns at nuclear blocks due to fuel changes. At other times, when all the blocks are running at full capacity, Slovakia exports it. "The fourth unit will allow us to be independent of imports even during outages. Exports are absolutely no problem, today there is a huge shortage of electricity, especially in the Balkans, so placing that electricity abroad and selling it will be absolutely trouble-free," added Strycek. am/mcs