Greece forms interministerial committee to evaluate nuclear energy

The Greek government has established an interministerial committee to begin a formal, institutional dialogue regarding the potential introduction of nuclear energy in the country. The committee, expected to be activated in September and coordinated by Deputy Minister of Energy Nikos Tsafos, will follow the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) "Milestones Approach" to evaluate technical, economic, environmental, and social parameters.

This initiative does not represent a definitive decision to implement a nuclear program, but rather a structured assessment to determine if nuclear energy should be included in Greece's long-term energy planning. The government has set a long-term horizon for this issue, noting that any potential utilization would likely occur after 2040, given the 10 to 15 years required for construction and operation.

A central goal of the process is to build broad political and social consensus through extensive public dialogue involving political parties, scientific bodies, universities, and industry stakeholders. The committee will also examine existing studies regarding site selection, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and applications within the shipping industry.