Cost estimates for the extension of the Mochovce nuclear power plant in Slovakia continue to fly out of control. The investment into the completion of the third and fourth blocks is currently estimated at €5.1bn, which is an increase of €500m since the last estimate. However, none of the shareholders in the plant have commented on the budget increase, according to daily Hospodarske noviny. The Czech company Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) is currently buying a share in the owner of Mochovce, Slovenské elektrárne (SE), from the Italian group Enel, in which the Slovak government has a 34 percent share.
Jana Burdová, SE spokeswoman, told the paper that safety is the top priority and there will be no compromises made to cut costs, nor will work be rushed. Work on the extension began in 1987, but came to a halt in the 1990’s when money ran out. Enel re-started the project in 2008 after taking control of SE. At the time, the final costs were expected to run to around €2.78bn, while completion was expected in 2012-13.
