Slovenské elektrárne started the cold hydro test of Unit 4 of the Nuclear power plant in Mochovce on 2 December 2024. This is an important step towards the commissioning of the plant and the first comprehensive test in which the reactor systems are in operation together with auxiliary systems. Its main objective is to demonstrate the quality, tightness and functionality of the plant's systems and equipment, including the reactor pressure vessel, piping, pumps and valves.
"Following the successful completion of the inactive functional tests, we are entering the second phase of the inactive tests of the plant commissioning process. These are the so-called staged inactive testing programmes. The first of them is the cold hydrotest of the primary circuit," said Peter Andraško, deputy project director of the Mochovce Unit 4 completion.
Unit 3 of Mochovce, which has been producing electricity since 2023, has also undergone the same tests.
"A small revision, a hot hydro test and a large revision will follow, which will end the inactive tests. Once the fuel loading application is approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic, we will load nuclear fuel into the reactor and start active tests," explained Martin Mráz, director of completion and commissioning of systems at Mochovce Unit 4.
Both Unit 3 and Unit 4 have an installed capacity of 471 MW and together will cover approximately 26 % of electricity consumption.
More than 70 % of all electricity produced in Slovakia comes from Slovenské elektrárne. Thanks to its 5 nuclear units and 31 hydroelectric power plants, and after shutting down its coal-fired facilities, the company generates 100 % of electricity free of direct CO2 emissions. The company was repeatedly included in the prestigious Financial Times: Europe’s Climate Leader index since it was introduced in 2021.
The company has two shareholders. The majority shareholder is Slovak Power Holding B.V. (SPH) owning the 66.0000000523 % share of the registered capital. 50 % share of the registered capital in SPH is owned by EP Slovakia B.V. (a daughter company of the EPH Group) and the other 50 % is owned by Enel Produzione S.p.A (a daughter company of the Enel Group).
The minority shareholder of Slovenské elektrárne with the 33.9999999477 % share of the registered capital is the Slovak Republic represented by the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic.
