The Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia signed an intergovernmental agreement to build the Mohovce plant, which is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Bratislava, in 1980. The first power-generating unit was commissioned in 1998, and the second in 2000. However, work on the second part of the NPP was suspended in 1992, when the construction of the third and fourth units was 70% complete and the technological elements were 30% ready.
Lubomir Jahnatek, who participated Tuesday in the work of the Russian-Slovakian intergovernmental commission on economic, scientific and technical cooperation, said a final decision on the issue will depend on an Italian company that holds a controlling stake in the NPP.
Jahnatek also said Slovakia considers it necessary to create a consortium with Russian and European companies to build new generating units of the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant. The Slovakian economics minister said Russian companies have a good chance of participating in the projects to build and modernize NPPs on the territory of Slovakia.
At the same time, Russian newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Naryshkin, who also participated in the work of the bilateral inter-governmental commission on economic, scientific and technical cooperation, said Russia is considering increasing oil exports to Slovakia.
"We have an agreement, under which we supply Slovakia with up to six million metric tons (43.9 million bbl) of oil a year. Slovakia is interested in increasing the volume of deliveries. We are looking for ways to meet the requirements of the Slovakian side," Naryshkin said.
The Russian deputy prime minister also said Russia will repay its $18 mln debt to Slovakia through the deliveries of high-tech products for the Slovakian cyclotron center and equipment and services for the aviation industry.
"We are at the final stage of work to repay the Soviet-era debt to Slovakia. Work is proceeding strictly on schedule," Naryshkin said.
