Arbutina: Vucic's presence at the Nuclear Energy Summit shows that Serbia is on the right path.

In Brussels today, the first summit on nuclear energy was held, and the director of the Public Company Nuclear Facilities of Serbia, Dalibor Arbutina, emphasizes that the presence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is of great importance because it shows that Serbia is on the right path, that is, it is following trends. Arbutina also points out that it is extremely important for Serbia to keep pace with the world on this issue because, as he emphasizes, nuclear energy guarantees energy independence and security and is the cleanest form of energy.

Arbutina explains in a statement to Kosovo Online how today's Summit came to be organized, saying that at the Climate Change Conference held in December last year in Dubai, attended by a delegation from Serbia, nuclear energy was presented for the first time as green energy.

He adds that Western countries then signed a Declaration committing to tripling nuclear energy production by 2050.

"This is very important for everyone because nuclear energy does not emit carbon dioxide like fossil fuels do," Arbutina emphasizes.

He reminds that after that conference, there was also the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which the President of Serbia met with the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who chaired today's summit in Brussels.

"Serbia is on the right path after many years, on the path where it rightfully belongs," Arbutina says, adding that at summits like today's, ideas are exchanged, new information is heard, the direction in which the world is heading is observed, discussions with financiers take place, and Serbia had the opportunity to seek models for its nuclear direction.

Furthermore, he adds, such gatherings are also an opportunity for other types of discussions such as political, economic, military, and others.

Speaking about the period from 30 to 40 years ago, during which Vucic stated that poor policies were pursued, Arbutina reminds that back then, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia did not develop in the direction of nuclear energy.

"We didn't follow nuclear trends; there was a halt with the Krsko nuclear power plant, and then there was a long hiatus until now. In the meantime, there have been technological changes, small modular reactors have been developed, and today the President mentioned that Serbia is interested in four small modular reactors," he said.

As he explains, small modular reactors are a new technology.

"As someone who deals with nuclear expertise, I am in favor of large energy blocks, but that takes time. For these small modular reactors, which are now a global trend, much less time is needed, and they are good because they immediately produce electricity and also provide automatic training for personnel," he adds.

Emphasizing the importance of nuclear energy, Arbutina points out the insecurity of supply that can be conditioned by various reasons, such as the war in Ukraine, and the fact that the Houthis in the Red Sea seize oil tankers. He underscores that nuclear energy guarantees energy independence and security and is the cleanest form of energy.

Regarding Serbia's current position on nuclear energy, Arbutina states that Serbia has its own nuclear operator, which is the Public Company Nuclear Facilities of Serbia, where there is a knowledge base for this field.

"Serbia is not disconnected regarding personnel; we absolutely follow all global trends, we are familiar with everything happening in the world through personnel, equipment, and of course through knowledge. We have a base, and everything else is progressing as it should," he says.