Two old nuclear reactors in Slovak Republic successfully dismantled

• Nuclear decommissioning project completed in Slovak Republic
• Two Soviet-designed nuclear reactors dismantled at Bohunice nuclear power plant
• Major achievement for BIDSF fund, which is managed by EBRD and financed by EU and other donors

Two VVER-440 pressurised water reactors and their supporting systems have been successfully removed and dismantled at the Bohunice nuclear power plant (BNPP) in the Slovak Republic, bringing a major nuclear decommissioning project to an end. This is a significant achievement for the Bohunice International Decommissioning Support Fund (BIDSF) – which is financed by the European Union (EU) and other donors and managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) – and is important for European nuclear safety more broadly.

A consortium led by the Westinghouse Electric Company, which included Slovak engineering firm VUJE, delivered the project with a budget of more than €100 million, ensuring the safe management of steam generators, main circulation pumps, pressurisers and reactor pressure vessel internals, which form the reactor coolant system at the BNPP.

The works carried out on site included safe dismantling of 6,700 tonnes of radioactive and contaminated structures. This involved advanced techniques such as dry and wet cutting, as well as the use of robotic decontamination systems and custom-built equipment, ensuring both technical precision and safety throughout.

In addition to the necessary dismantling activities, which were completed on time and within the envisaged budget, the consortium also processed 3,800 tonnes of obsolete non-radioactive materials for free release. Another 479 tonnes of secondary radioactive waste were also processed with rigorous regulatory oversight.
Massimo Garribba, the European Commission’s Deputy Director-General for Energy, said: “By completing this decommissioning activity at the Bohunice nuclear power plant, we have set a benchmark for other decommissioning projects. This major international undertaking, financed by the EU and other donors, was successful thanks to the supervision of the Slovak nuclear and decommissioning company JAVYS and the work of the EBRD-managed BIDSF fund. The safety standards and the amount of recycled materials, fully consistent with circular economy principles, were remarkable.”

According to Steven White, Head of the BIDSF at the EBRD, the support of European institutions, including financial backing from the EU, played a pivotal role in driving the project’s success: “This project shows what international cooperation can achieve. It also confirms our collective commitment to nuclear safety and environmental protection across the region and demonstrates that these complex and challenging tasks can be completed in a cost-effective and timely manner.”

The EBRD-managed BIDSF fund was established in 2001. It is supported by contributions from the European Union, as well as Austria, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.