20 Years of History

Interview with the Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors

Ing. Miroslav Obert    Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors

The hardest part was changing people’s mindsets

The twenty-year history of JAVYS is the story of one of the most significant transformations in the Slovak energy sector. From the operation of nuclear units to their decommissioning – a pro­cess that requires not only technical know-how but also a fundamental shift in mindset. CEO Ing. Miroslav Obert is among those who have not only experienced this journey from a mana­gerial position but have gone through it from the very ground up. In his case, from working as an operator in the main control room of a nuclear power plant to becoming CEO of JAVYS.

Today you are the CEO of a company that is decommissioning the power plant where you worked and which you also managed from a managerial position at one time. You started right on the power plant floor. How do you remember those early years?

I started as a secondary circuit operator, gradually moved on to reactor operator, unit supervisor, and later to shift engineer. Shift engineer was a key position at that time. During my shift, I was responsible for virtually the entire power plant—the process units and the staff – and I made impor­tant decisions in real time. Outside of working hours, the shift engineer on duty even stood in for the plant manager in certain areas. It was a learning experience that taught you not only technical solutions but also responsibility and the ability to make decisions under pressure.

The establishment of JAVYS in 2006 represented a major miles­tone for the Slovak nuclear sector. In your opinion, what signi­ficance did this moment hold in a broader historical context?

The establishment of JAVYS as an independent company was one of the significant systemic steps in the history of Slovak nuclear energy. Until then, nuclear energy in our country was perceived primarily through the lens of electricity generation. Power plants were designed, built, and operated with the goal of long-term production. The topic of decommissioning of nuclear installations was viewed solely through the lens of the decommissioning of the A1 nuclear power plant, which was unique in that it involved decommis­sioning a nuclear power plant following a serious operational incident. With the establishment of the independent JAVYS, this perspective changed fun­damentally. Suddenly, there was an independent organisation whose main strategic mission was not primarily to generate energy, but to manage the final phase of the nuclear energy sector, conclude the life cycle of nuclear installations through their decommissioning, and address the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel.

If you look at the 20-year history of JAVYS as a whole, what key periods would you highlight from a historical perspective?

There are several periods, and each had its own significance. The first was the actual preparation and establishment of the company. That was the period when the basic processes were defined, structures were put in place, and the team was formed. I would also include the operation and subsequent shutdown of the V1 units here, which was a historic moment in itself. The second stage was the commencement of the decommissio­ning of this nuclear power plant following its successful commercial opera­tion. This was a new experience for us, also because the decommissioning process was partially funded by the EU, and we worked closely with the administrator of the V1 NPP Decommissioning Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, based in London. At that time, in­ternational cooperation and the transfer of experience from abroad also played a major role.

The next stage was stabilisation and professionalisation. Gradually, a sys­tem was established that operates as standard today – processes, project management, financing, and communication with foreign partners. And today, I would say that we have reached a stage where we are not only capable of implementing our own projects to complete the final phase of nuclear energy utilisation in Slovakia, but we also aspire to serve as a partner for other countries and share our experience with them. We have even reached the stage where we have established two subsidiaries through which we are preparing significant and ambitious development projects in the field of building new nuclear power plants.

What was the most challenging aspect of transitioning the V1 nuclear power plant from its operational phase to the decommis­sioning process?

Of course, it was the multitude of legislative, technical, and adminis­trative measures and complex solutions. But a very significant moment was the shift in mindset among employees at all levels of management and activities, from plant operation to decommissioning. This “mental transformation” was, in my opinion, an absolutely crucial and often un­derestimated factor. When a person has worked their entire life in a nuclear power plant, certain principles are ingrained in them – to keep the facility running, ensure maximum safety, and eliminate any risk. Decommissioning does not change this principle in terms of safety, but fundamentally expands it to include economics and efficiency. And we managed to successfully overcome this serious challenge as well.

JAVYS is now an established part of the nuclear sector in Slovakia. What do you think will be the company’s main tasks in the coming years?

We will continue with the decommissioning of nuclear installations, a pro­cess that takes years and requires a systematic approach. At the same time, there is the area of radioactive waste management and spent fuel manage­ment, which is equally important and sensitive. I also see opportunities to participate in international commercial projects and, of course, to develop new nuclear units, which we are implementing through our subsidiaries.

Finally, what message would you like to convey to JAVYS em­ployees on the occasion of the company’s 20th anniversary?

First and foremost, a huge thank you to all employees, my colleagues. The fact that JAVYS is today an exceptionally successful, modern, and thriving company is not the result of a single managerial decision or a single strategy. It is the result of the daily work of the people who work here in all positions – often for many years, under demanding con­ditions, and on projects that are not always visible to the outside world. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to all members of the management team and CEOs who have served the company from its founding to the present day.