U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher A. Wright and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) signed an intergovernmental agreement to advance cooperation on Slovakia’s civil nuclear power programme in Washington on Friday (16 January), TASR reported, citing a statement published by the U.S. Department of Energy.
This landmark agreement includes the development of a new, state-owned 1,200 MW nuclear unit at the Jaslovské Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant, deepening the U.S.–Slovak strategic partnership and strengthening European energy security. These efforts lay the foundation for sustained U.S. engagement in Slovakia’s nuclear energy programme and support future civil nuclear projects across the region, the statement said.
“I see this moment as a significant milestone in our bilateral relations, but also as a clear signal that Slovakia and the United States are united by common strategic thinking about the future of energy – its safety, sustainability and technological maturity,” Fico said after signing the agreement.
The agreement is expected to open formal talks with the U.S. company Westinghouse, which is supposed to build the new nuclear unit. However, the fact that the company was not selected through a public procurement procedure sparked criticism from Slovak opposition parties in July 2025, when the decision to choose Westinghouse was made.
Source: TASR, Denník N
