Slovakia may use nuclear plant if gas stays off

BRATISLAVA, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Slovakia may restart a nuclear power plant unit it has shut down to comply with the European Union accession agreement if Russian gas supplies remain halted for a longer time, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday.

Bratislava declared the state of emergency with gas supplies on Tuesday after deliveries of Russian gas stopped completely due to a row between Moscow and Ukraine.

Slovakia had to close a 440 MW unit at its older nuclear power plant Jaslovske Bohunice at the end of 2008 as part of the EU accession deal. "If Slovakia remains hostage to a dispute between Russia and Ukraine in the following days, and if non-standard measures have to be taken, then I can imagine restarting Jaslovske Bohunice as a non-standard measure," Fico told reporters.

The EU accession agreement had forced Slovakia to close another unit at the Soviet-designed Bohunice in 2006.

Slovak gas firm Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel, run by GDF Suez (GSZ.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and E.ON (EONGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), has reduced gas deliveries to large customers with annual consumption exceeding 60,000 cubic metres to a "safe minimum".

The economy ministry said on Wednesday gas-powered capacities, which are needed to maintain stability of the power grid, were also among the sectors affected by gas supply restrictions. (Reporting by Peter Laca)