tech

April 26, 2026

Awakening from the Moratorium

Three years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, the Assembly of Yugoslavia declared a moratorium on the construction of nuclear facilities on Yugoslav territory. This was done without significant scientific discussion, riding the wave of fear that swept over the citizens of our country. Thus, the nuclear program, which was very successfully developed in Yugoslavia in the seventies of the last century, was sealed for many years, especially in the nuclear institutes of Vinča (Belgrade), Ruđer Bošković (Zagreb), and Jožef Stefan (Ljubljana), as well as in Energoinvest (Sarajevo). Before the Chernobyl accident, the first nuclear power plant was built in the Slovenian town of Krško, which is still operating successfully today, and the Yugoslav program was on the verge of deciding to build four more nuclear power plants, two of which in Serbia, which would be of enormous benefit to Serbia today. At that time, international loans could have been obtained, and the nuclear power plants would have started operating at the beginning of this century. Numerous experts from our institutes completed specializations in the best nuclear centers in the world, there was a lot of enthusiasm, and Yugoslavia was predicted a bright nuclear-energy future.

Awakening from the Moratorium

TL;DR

  • Yugoslavia imposed a moratorium on nuclear power construction three years after the Chernobyl accident, driven by public fear rather than scientific consensus.
  • The moratorium halted a successful nuclear program developed in the 1970s, impacting institutes in Belgrade, Zagreb, and Ljubljana.
  • The Krško Nuclear Power Plant in Slovenia, built before the moratorium, continues to operate successfully.
  • The article argues that abandoning nuclear power led to a loss of valuable expertise and a lack of nuclear technology education in Serbia.
  • It highlights the finite nature of fossil fuels and the limitations of hydropower and renewables, positioning nuclear energy as a crucial alternative.
  • Global trends show many countries, including China, India, the US, and European nations, continue to invest heavily in nuclear power.
  • Modern nuclear reactors (3rd and 4th generation) are significantly safer than older models, and accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima were due to human error, not system failure.
  • Nuclear energy is presented as cleaner and more reliable than thermal power, with fewer casualties compared to other energy sources.
  • The article acknowledges the high cost of building nuclear power plants but emphasizes the long-term benefits and the environmental drawbacks of coal-fired power plants.
  • Serbia has lifted its moratorium but faces significant challenges in rebuilding its nuclear expertise and the immense cost of new construction.
  • The author proposes training a new generation of nuclear engineers and suggests options like purchasing power from neighboring countries or building a plant with international cooperation.
  • Implementing a nuclear program requires significant long-term commitment, infrastructure development, and robust legal, financial, and supervisory resources.

Continue reading the original article