Nuclear power in Europe

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — The Slovak government has chosen the Czech Republic's main power utility CEZ AS as its strategic partner to build a new nuclear power station in Slovakia. CEZ spokesman Ladislav Kriz said Wednesday the two planned to establish a joint company next year that will build and operate the plant by 2020. The Slovak government will have a majority 51 percent stake in the company while CEZ will control 49 percent, Kriz said. Both partners would share the cost that could reach up to 6 billion Slovak koruna ($280 million), Kriz said. Details about the plant, including its output are yet to be decided, Kriz said. It will be built on the premises of the existing Soviet-era nuclear plant in Jaslovske Bohunice in western Slovakia. That plant originally had four units — one of them was shut down in 2006, while the other is to be closed by the end of the year at the EU's request. Slovakia's nuclear reactors generated more than 50 percent of Slovak electricity last year. CEZ owns companies across central and eastern Europe. CEZ shares closed up 1.32 percent at 803 koruna ($41.69) on Prague's stock exchange Wednesday.