Serbia and UAE Nuclear Cooperation: Is the “Barakah Model” a Good Fit for Serbia?

The Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, met in Dubai with Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). The primary focus of the meeting was the exchange of experiences in establishing nuclear programs in “newcomer” countries—those just entering the field of nuclear technology

Strategic Roadmap and Technical Support ENEC expressed its readiness to share its “roadmap” with Serbia—the same strategic framework used for the construction of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. This model is globally recognized as one of the most efficient for nuclear energy implementation.

The Minister noted that ENEC could assist Serbia with key Phase 1 challenges, including:

• Developing professional and technical teams for plant management and operation.
• Solutions for radioactive waste storage and nuclear fuel procurement.
• Exploring financing options and potential Serbian participation in the international ENEC investment program.

Current Status in Serbia Minister Đedović Handanović reminded that Serbia lifted its nuclear moratorium 18 months ago and is currently in the feasibility analysis phase. According to the Ministry, the preliminary technical study with the French EDF has been completed, a dedicated implementation body has been formed within the Ministry, and MoUs have been signed with domestic academic institutions and several global players, including France, the USA, Russia, South Korea, and now the UAE.

“Nuclear energy is an option that can provide Serbia with secure baseload energy for decades to come, especially considering the growing consumption of industry and data centers,” stated Đedović Handanović.

However, we must point out a radical difference between the Serbian and UAE contexts. The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant was built in cooperation with KEPCO and its subsidiary, KHNP. It is highly unlikely that this same company could partner with Serbia due to ongoing licensing disputes. Westinghouse claims ownership of the intellectual property rights for the technology KHNP exports, asserting that any export without Westinghouse’s consent constitutes a breach of contract. These exact legal complications caused significant disruptions in the recent case of reactor construction in the Czech Republic.

Furthermore, we highlight a transparency issue: while the aforementioned preliminary study with EDF is indeed finished and was “presented” at a press conference over six months ago, the document remains unavailable to the public. It remains unclear when the full study will be released, which is a critical step for public participation and informed decision-making regarding the construction of nuclear power plants in Serbia.

Source: Ministry of Mining and Energy (Press Service)

S.A.