Plenković in Paris: EU lags behind in developing 'inevitable' nuclear energy

A summit on nuclear energy was held in Paris. French President Macron brought together representatives of about forty countries and organizations to discuss reviving the use of nuclear energy.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also participated in organizing the meeting to promote "safe and affordable energy for all".

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković also participated in the meeting. Before the start, Greenpeace activists appeared on the red carpet with messages against nuclear energy. In her address to the gathering, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that turning away from nuclear energy was a strategic mistake.

Plenković in Paris: EU lags behind in development of 'inevitable' nuclear energy

The European Union is lagging behind in the development of civil nuclear energy because it is building "just over a tenth of new capacities", Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković warned at a nuclear summit in France on Tuesday, adding that this is "inevitable" energy for the bloc, the government announced on its website.

“Europe currently uses almost a third of the world's nuclear fleet. However, it accounts for just over a tenth of the new capacities currently under construction. This clearly shows that Europe is lagging behind in the new cycle of development of civil nuclear energy,” said Plenković.

“If the European Union intends to achieve its decarbonization goals by 2050 and strengthen its energy independence, nuclear energy is indispensable for it,” he added.

“Nuclear energy is now regaining its rightful place in the European Union's energy policy. As a low-carbon and manageable technology, it is indispensable if we want to achieve the ambitious decarbonization goals of the European Union by 2050 and strengthen our energy independence,” he told the participants of the summit in France.

Croatia's civil nuclear program

Plenković stressed that Croatia wants to actively contribute to the renewed momentum of nuclear energy on the continent.

“Contrary to what most international statistics show, Croatia is among the countries that produce nuclear energy,” said the Prime Minister, referring to the Krško nuclear power plant in which Croatia is a co-owner in equal shares with Slovenia.

He stressed that in the Croatian case, therefore, it is not about imported nuclear energy and that it accounts for "approximately 20 percent of our production and 16 percent of our electricity consumption".

He also stressed that Croatia is creating the conditions for the development of a civil nuclear program, mentioning last week's presentation of the law establishing the framework for a civil nuclear program, based on advanced technologies.

“The goal is to ensure strong and sustainable electricity production in accordance with European standards. In this context, small modular reactors (SMRs) are of particular importance because they can meet the challenges of construction deadlines and cost control,” said Plenković.

He added that Croatia is also included in the European nuclear fusion program and that he is convinced that this technology will "ensure the continuity of nuclear energy even after 2050."

The issue of energy independence

“In a world marked by uncertainty, nuclear energy, fission today, fusion tomorrow, is a strategic choice for the decarbonization, competitiveness and resilience of Europe,” said the Croatian Prime Minister.

“First of all, it is a question of energy independence and political sovereignty, given the fact that the EU imports almost 60 percent of the energy it consumes, including almost all of its oil and gas,” believes Plenković.

“Nuclear energy will not solve all of our energy challenges, but without it there is no credible solution,” he concluded.

Source: HRT