They met with the new management of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) and the management of GEN energija and participated in a public consultation on the future of nuclear energy in Slovenia. The consultation, organised by the City Municipality of Krško, discussed key aspects and opportunities in the development and use of nuclear technologies for electricity generation.

"Slovenia is and will remain a nuclear state. We have a wealth of knowledge in the field of nuclear technology, which we need to exploit in the construction of the NPP2 second reactor unit," was the key message from Prime Minister Robert Golob in Krško. In his contribution to the debate, he expressed his support for the continued use of nuclear energy and for the continuation of the NPP2 project. "With the strategy, which is still to be approved by the National Assembly, we are introducing, for the first time since 2004, the possibility for a facility such as NPP2 to be placed in space. Under the current strategy, this was not possible," the Prime Minister pointed out.

Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer announced that the upgraded National Energy and Climate Plan will enshrine the long-term use of nuclear energy even more clearly and decisively than the current plan. But they will not be limited to Unit 2, and the country will also allow a wider use of nuclear energy.

Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Uroš Brežan added that the Spatial Development Strategy of Slovenia until 2050 defines the continuation of the use of nuclear energy, with the possibility of deploying a second unit: "The strategy will be one of the bases for the continuation of the procedures and development of Slovenia as a nuclear energy country."

The Prime Minister pointed out that Slovenia has an "energy mix” of sources, from which electricity is produced. We produce it from fossil fuels, especially coal, hydropower, nuclear power and renewable energy sources. As he said, it will be important to ensure a mix in the future that does not rely on a single source: "We need all the resources we can get because climate change will electrify the entire society, and our electricity needs will be much higher than they are today. And not only in Slovenia but in the whole region, including Europe."

He recalled that countries in Europe have different views on nuclear energy or the energy mix of the future. "In the end, it will turn out that nuclear energy is almost certainly the only reliable source of baseload energy for Europe, and Europe will have no other source at all," the Prime Minister said.

The energy crisis has clearly shown the importance of energy surpluses: "Unfortunately, despite its good energy mix, Slovenia does not have a surplus of energy, and we have to import quite a lot of it. Not just gas and oil, but electricity too. We need to increase our own production, and we will do everything we can to make sure that this is the case in the field of nuclear energy." For the NPP2 project, Dr Golob mentioned the possibility of a special law to speed up and optimise the siting procedures.

The Prime Minister further clarified that support for the NPP2 project will not remain at the declaratory level: "It is important to take concrete steps and form concrete teams that are dedicated to this project. The Government will take a decision in principle and start the necessary procedures from 1 August. We are aligned with GEN energija on this, as it is essential that we work together." A State Secretary will also be appointed in the Prime Minister’s Office as of 1 August 2023 to be responsible for NPP2 and the coordination of stakeholders in the project. This will be Danijel Levičar, who is already leading the project under GEN energija.

In addition to the Prime Minister and the two ministers, the public consultation on the future of nuclear energy was also attended by the Director General of GEN energija Dejan Paravan, the President of the Management Board of NEK Gorazd Pfeifer and the former long-time President of the Management Board of NEK Stane Rožman. Before the start of the consultation, Mayor of the City Municipality of Krško Janez Kerin expressed his support for the continued use of nuclear energy and the NPP2 project.

At a working meeting at NEK, the new President of the Management Board Gorazd Pfeifer briefed the Prime Minister and the ministers on the latest safety upgrades and the operation of the plant. It was granted an operating licence earlier this year until 2043. Moreover, Director General of GEN energija Dejan Paravan presented GEN Group’s operations and development plans, in particular the core strategic development project NPP2, to the government delegation.