Energy policy, legislative background, funds and programmes
Energy Policy
The Energy Policy (Draft Stage, 2008) is a part of the national economic strategy of the Slovak Republic. Its outcomes set the frame for ensuring maximum economic growth while retaining sustainable development, energy supplies at optimum costs and environmental protection.
This draft (accessed January 2008) is building up on the previous version (Act No. 5/2000), which came into force in 2000. The draft is further pursuant to Act No. 656/2004 Col. on Power Industry and Amendment of Respective Acts (also referred to as Energy Act). New trends in power industry liberalisation, the accession of the Slovak Republic to the EU and the adoption of EU Directives called for the development of a new Energy Policy.
Objectives and actions
- Satisfy the energy needs of the society in a reliable, safe, most effective and ecologically acceptable way.
- Harmonisation of the Slovak Republic legislation with the legislation of the EU.
- Liberalisation of the electricity and natural gas market.
- Fulfilment of the international agreement in the fields of ecology, nuclear safety, investments and energy trade (Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Safety Treaty, Supplementary Agreement to Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Ecology Aspects of the ECT, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Aarhus Convention, etc.).
- Reduce the energy intensity to the level in the EU member countries.
- Build up the storage capacities up to the volume of 90-days emergency oil stock and oil products stock (until 2010).
- Strengthen the strategic position of the Slovak Republic in the area of transit of strategic energy supplies, through development of gas and crude oil pipeline system.
- Resolve the concept of the final sections of the radioactive fuel cycle in nuclear power plants.
- Regarding nuclear safety, the second Bohunice V1 reactor will be shut down some time in 2008.
- Increase the share of renewable energy sources in the coverage of consumption of PER (primary energy resource).
- The main priorities for the renewable energy policy are to develop the biomass sector, particularly for use in district heating, and to encourage a better awareness about the viability and reliability of renewable energy technologies in general.
The entire text of the Draft Energy Policy in English language can be found at the Website of the Ministry of Economy.
Strategy of energy supply security (up to 2030)
The strategy was officially introduced to the public in September 2007. The document analyses relevant energy sources (coal, oil, gas, RES and nuclear energy) and related matters such as reliable supply of resources, self-sufficency in electricity production, price policy, export conditions and the position of the Slovak Republic as a transit country for crude oil, gas and power. The strategy is especially stressing the importance of nuclear power and RES to come up with the requirements of the European Union and the ambitious goals set up by the government in the next decades.
Concept of Energy Efficiency of the Slovak Republic
The concept of energy efficiency is a strategic document and was approved in July 2007. The main goal is to decrease energy intensity and adjust it to the European level. Furthermore the document is focusing on raising awareness concering energy efficiency among inhabitants as well as market players.
Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) for the years 2008 - 2010
Based on Directive 2006/32/EC on energy end-use efficiency and energy services the Slovak Republic has to prepare an Energy Efficiency Roadmap. The EEAP specifies targets, defines energy efficiency measures and sets the legal framework to ensure the implementation of the proposed measures and their monitoring. The outcome and achievements under the action plan will be assessed by the European Commission. Regarding the development of energy intensity in the years 2001 to 2005 the Slovak Republic has committed itself to annual savings in final energy consumption of an average amount of 4,135 TJ/year. This equals an indicative target set by Directive 2006/32/EC on energy services in the period from 2008 - 2017 to save 9 % of final energy consumption over 9 years.
This document is set up for the next three years. Within these three years an action plan for the next three years has to be worked out, building up on the experiences made in the current period.
Legislative background
Energy Act (No. 656/2004)
The Act has entered into force with January 1st, 2005.
The Act governs
- terms and conditions for conducting business in the energy sector;
- access to the market, rights and obligations of market participants in the energy sector;
- rights, legitimate interests and obligations of natural or legal persons whose rights, legitimate interests or obligations may be affected by market participants in the energy sector;
- the performance of state administration in the energy sector;
- the performance of state supervision of business in the energy sector.
According to the Act, state administration in the energy sector is performed by:
- the Ministry of Economy
- the Regulatory Office for Network Industries
- the State Energy Inspection Board.
The 2000 (Act No. 5/2000) and 2004 (Act No. 656/2004) energy legislation has helped the government to achieve and consolidate a market-based regulatory framework in line with EU directives.
Important contracts between Austria and Slovak Republic concerning energy issues
Memorandum of Understanding regarding bilateral co-operation between the Republic of Austria and the Slovak Republic for the reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions
Scope and Objective: The co-operation in the framework of this Memorandum includes support for realising Joint Implementation projects in accordance with Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol in the Slovak Republic through joint activities and the transfer to the Republic of Austria of the agreed part of emission reduction units (ERUs) resulting from the implementation of such projects.
