Greece Launches Inquiry into Nuclear Energy Integration

Greece has officially begun exploring the possibility of incorporating nuclear energy into its national energy strategy. The government has approved the formation of an inter-ministerial committee tasked with this comprehensive investigation, a move first announced in March.

The committee, expected to convene in September, will comprise representatives from key ministries including Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Environment and Energy, Development, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Shipping and Island Policy, and Health. The Deputy Minister of Energy, Nikos Tsafos, will coordinate its efforts. The committee's mission is to adhere to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Milestones Approach, a globally recognized framework for countries considering nuclear power programs.

In its initial phase, the committee will meticulously evaluate the technical, economic, environmental, institutional, and social aspects of nuclear energy. This rigorous, IAEA-standardized process aims to provide a solid foundation for an informed decision, without predetermining the outcome. A central element of this first stage is fostering broad political and social consensus through extensive public discourse.

The government plans a wide-ranging public dialogue involving political parties, scientific bodies, universities, and industry representatives, particularly from the energy, shipping, and shipbuilding sectors. Tsafos highlighted that a nuclear program requires social consent, which in turn depends on complete information regarding accidents, waste, costs, benefits, and risks. The committee will examine the potential role of nuclear energy in Greece's future energy mix, development and operational costs, safety requirements, potential site locations, and available reactor technologies.

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there can be no nuclear program without social consensus and there can be no social consensus without full information about accidents, waste, costs, benefits, and risks.