The fate of the NPP in Slovenia will be decided in a referendum
The final decision regarding the construction on the existing Krško nuclear power plant will be determined through a national referendum.
The Slovenian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Natasha Bergele, announced this at the annual conference of the Bulgarian Nuclear Forum, as reported by NucNet.
It has been acknowledged that Slovenia may face a shortage of base load capacity after 2043. The Slovenian Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning has previously granted permission to extend the operation of the Krško nuclear power plant reactor for 20 years until 2043.
The current government in Slovenia has committed to thoroughly study the use of nuclear energy in light of the opinion of its citizens, considering it an important topic for future generations in the country. The assessment of the impact of the nuclear power plant on the environment involved an international group of experts from 30 countries. The Slovenian government also consulted with representatives of environmental organizations in the country, as well as delegations from neighboring Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, and representatives from Germany. The experts recognized an adequate level of seismic safety, despite the station being located in a dangerous zone and temporarily ceasing operations in December 2020 due to a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Croatian territory.
The only nuclear power plant in Slovenia is located on the outskirts of the city of Krško in the southeastern part of the country. Its first unit was constructed by Westinghouse in 1983 and is operated jointly by Croatia and Slovenia. Due to the planned closure of the first unit, the Slovenian government intended to build a second unit for the power plant. The start of construction was planned for 2023, and a nationwide referendum will be necessary to proceed with the project.
Prime Minister Robert Golob visited the Krško nuclear power plant, which is currently undergoing major repairs, and stated that he agrees with the management of the facility that there is an opportunity for the nuclear option to secure its position for the future. He added that it will be difficult for Europe to overcome current problems in the energy sector without utilizing all technologies, although renewable energy sources are a top priority.
In other news related to nuclear power, the Czech nuclear power plant in Temelín is replacing its generators with American ones. The Czech state energy company, ČEZ, has announced a tender worth "billions of Czech crowns" for the replacement of generators at the two-unit Temelín nuclear power plant in the southern part of the country.