Serbia intends to complete the initial assessment phase of its national nuclear programme by mid-2027, establish the necessary institutional and regulatory framework by 2032, and begin construction of its first nuclear facility by 2035.
The programme is being developed through Serbia’s National Nuclear Energy Programme Implementation Organization, following the staged approach promoted by the International Atomic Energy Agency. This structure requires the country to resolve legal, regulatory, technical, financing, safety and workforce issues before selecting a final reactor technology or committing to construction.
A preliminary feasibility study prepared with France’s EDF provides the starting point for further technical and economic work. The next phase is expected to compare available technologies, system requirements, construction models, fuel-cycle arrangements and potential financing structures.
The mid-2027 milestone is intended to give the Government enough information to decide whether and how Serbia should proceed. By 2032, the country aims to have a functioning nuclear regulatory framework, institutional capacity and a sufficiently developed pool of technical specialists.
Serbia has included nuclear energy in its 2035 development strategy, which contains an investment envelope of approximately €3 billion. That amount should not be interpreted as the confirmed capital cost of a nuclear plant. A final project budget cannot be established before capacity, technology, ownership, localisation, site and financing have been selected.
The stated objective of starting construction by 2035 also means that commercial operation would come later. Large nuclear projects require lengthy construction, commissioning and regulatory approval, making the programme primarily a post-2035 supply strategy rather than a solution to Serbia’s immediate capacity needs.
Workforce development is already emerging as a central workstream. The Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences and the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad are preparing a master’s programme for future nuclear engineers. Serbia will also require specialists in nuclear regulation, safety assessment, environmental permitting, radiation protection, project finance, construction supervision, cyber security and emergency preparedness.
The financing model will ultimately determine whether the programme progresses beyond preparatory studies. Nuclear projects require long-duration debt, strong state support and a revenue framework capable of absorbing construction delay and cost-overrun risk. Reactor selection alone cannot establish bankability.
For Serbia’s electricity system, nuclear generation could provide low-carbon baseload and reduce long-term dependence on lignite and imports. The credibility of the 2035 construction target will depend on disciplined completion of the earlier milestones, particularly the 2027 decision package and 2032 institutional-readiness deadline.
