Jadrová energetická spoločnosť Slovenska (JESS) is a company that is preparing the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Jaslovské Bohunice in Slovakia.[1] Slovakia and the ČEZ Group founded it in 2009, during the first government of the current Slovak prime minister Robert Fico. Slovakia kept a majority stake of 51 percent, and ČEZ's task was, among other things, to provide know-how.[1][2]
History
According to Ekonomický deník, in January 2013 ČEZ decided to withdraw from the Slovak project, in response to falling electricity prices and an unfavourable development of the Temelín tender, which was cancelled in April 2014 without a winner. According to the same source, the media reported at the time on an interest of the Russian Rosatom in a minority stake, but no agreement was reached. An environmental impact assessment of the new unit followed, and the project was put on hold for several years.[2]
In 2022 JESS obtained from the Slovak Ministry of Economy an authorisation to build a new reactor. In February 2023 the company applied to the Úrad jadrového dozoru for a permit for the siting of a nuclear installation.[2] According to the chairman of the board and chief executive of ČEZ, Daniel Beneš, during the preparation of the plant a feasibility study was approved, a certificate of capacity reservation, a positive environmental impact assessment, a siting permit under the Atomic Act and the necessary land were obtained. Proceedings on a zoning decision also began.[1]
Sale of the ČEZ Group's stake
On 7 October 2026 the ČEZ Group signed a contract to sell its 49 percent stake in JESS to the Slovak state for 189 million euros, which according to E15 is about 4.6 billion koruna. The seller is the subsidiary ČEZ Invest Slovensko, and the buyer is the state-controlled Slovak company Jadrová a vyraďovacia spoločnosť (JAVYS), which had until then held 51 percent of the shares in JESS. The Slovak state thus gains full control over the project. According to ČEZ, settlement is expected in the coming days.[1]
According to Ekonomický deník, citing the Slovak daily SME, the amount of the price was a matter of dispute in the Slovak government coalition. The Minister of Economy Denisa Saková considered the price set by an EY valuation too high, and Prime Minister Fico, according to the same source, pushed for a quick buyout.[2] E15 states that a new valuation confirmed the original one and that the government then moved the preparation of construction from the Ministry of Economy to the government commissioner for the development of nuclear energy and to the Government Office.[1]
According to E15, the Slovak opposition criticises that Fico pushed ČEZ out of the project so that he could decide on the investment himself. Karol Galek, a member of parliament for the Svoboda a Solidarita party, told journalists that ČEZ had given the project added value.[1] After the signing Fico thanked ČEZ for the cooperation and said that the construction of the new source could be significantly accelerated.[1]
Construction plans
According to earlier information from E15, the main partner of Bratislava in building the source, with an output of around 1,200 megawatts, is to be the American company Westinghouse.[1] According to Ekonomický deník, the Slovak government says the new unit could be completed in 2040, and according to Denník N, Fico wants to sign a binding contract with Westinghouse before the parliamentary elections in September 2027.[2]
Chronology
- — The ČEZ Group signed a contract to sell its 49 percent stake in Jadrová energetická spoločnosť Slovenska, which is preparing a new nuclear power plant in Jaslovské Bohunice, to the Slovak state for 189 million euros. → E15 Ekonomický deník
Sources
- E15 — 7 October 2026
- Ekonomický deník