Djedovic Handanovic meets with IAEA representatives

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Deputy Director General Hua Liu met on Friday in Belgrade to discuss support from and cooperation with the agency in development of Serbia's national infrastructure for peacetime use of nuclear power, the Ministry of Mining and Energy said in a statement.

"We discussed options for continuing the cooperation with the IAEA, initially in creating knowledge bases, through support in capacity-building and developing a qualified workforce in Serbia in the nuclear power sector based on the MoU on application of nuclear power, signed in July with more than 20 institutions, including ministries, university faculties, scientific institutes as well as energy companies," Djedovic Handanovic said.

She added that the IAEA was ready to provide support through resources and knowledge related to application of nuclear power in various fields - power generation, medicine, agriculture and environmental protection, the statement said.

The minister said the Serbian government had adopted an integrated national energy and climate plan until 2030 with projections until 2050 that included a potential scenario under which nuclear power would be introduced in the national energy mix as a base energy source after 2040.

"I expect amendments to the Law on Energy to be in the parliament by the end of the year, and if they are adopted, the moratorium on building nuclear facilities in our country will be lifted. In mid-next year, we will complete a preliminary technical study assessing peacetime use of nuclear energy, which is to show us what is the most favourable for our conditions. That is the foundation upon which we will continue further preparation of analyses and studies," the minister said.

Liu said Serbia had a serious and committed approach to peacetime use of nuclear power.