Nuclear power, as we all know, is used for generating electricity. In Slovakia only about 10 per cent of its gas imports are used for electricity generation (as a by-product of central heating cogeneration not power stations) with the rest used for cooking and heating. Restarting the country’s nuclear reactors is not going to suddenly allow its citizens to have warm houses and hot food.

In Bulgaria only 4 per cent of electricity is generated by gas and only then in times of large demand. Restarting reactors 3 and 4 at Kozloduy would actually produce electricity for which there is no demand. In short, those two reactors are redundant – restarting them is an empty gesture. This is summed up by this from The London Times:

As the floodlights go off on important landmarks and gas-powered taxis are forced off the road, Bulgaria is demanding the right to crank up one of its Soviet-era nuclear reactors.

Switching Soviet-era nuclear reactors puts gas-powered taxis back on the road how exactly?

There’s also a question of swapping one monopoly for another. Slovakia and Bulgaria want to free themselves of Russia’s domination over gas supplies. And yet Russia is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of uranium (indeed, Slovakian reactors are entirely dependent on Russian uranium). With the demand for uranium set to quickly grow should the nuclear ‘renaissance’ take off, these countries face the same problems of politics and scarcity in the not too distant future.

The reactors in both countries would also take time to restart – we’re talking months for the required refuelling and safety checks. Also the reactors were closed as part of the deals made when both Bulgaria and Slovakia joined the EU. Restarting the reactors puts both countries in violation of EU treaties.

The alternatives are far simpler than jump-starting nuclear reactors. Energy efficiency is the obvious one with gas being used predominantly for heating in both countries. It’s quick, it’s cheap and it works. As a recent study in the Czech Republic discovered, the reduction in gas usage can be up to 60 per cent if thermal insulation of buildings is done properly.

It seems that the proponents and supporters of nuclear power in Slovakia and Bulgaria are using the current crisis to further their own interests. It’s naked and dangerous opportunism. It also smacks of politicians trying to save face. The fact that the two governments haven’t used the time since these reactors closed to diversify their energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biomass, etc.) shows a negligent lack of planning and regard for their citizens. Restarting their nuclear reactors is thinking of the past not the future and does not make amends.