The management of Slovenian nuclear operator GEN Energija have informed the members of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Krško about the course of the JEK2 project, with an emphasis on activities for siting preparations.
The JEK2 project is for a new NPP with up to 2400 MWe capacity adjacent to the existing 696 MWe Krško NPP owned and operated by Nuklearna Elektrarna Krško, jointly owned by Croatia’s Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP Group) and GEN Energija. A final investment decision is to be taken in 2028, with construction beginning in 2032. Slovenia had been due to hold a referendum on new nuclear in November 2024, but it was cancelled after a leaked wiretap showed the largest two parties were colluding to circumvent legal concerns over the referendum question. Prime Minister Robert Golob said he remained committed to holding a referendum before a final investment decision is taken.
The JEK2 project team, following discussions with potential nuclear power plant providers EDF, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Westinghouse, in May 2024, estimated the cost for various reactor sizes, ranging from €9.314bn ($10.1bn) for a 1,000 MWe unit, to €15.371bn for a 1,650 MWe unit. KHNP withdrew from the process in January.
GEN Energija Business Director Dr Bruno Glaser presented the status of preparation of key expert studies, including site safety analysis reports, radiological analysis, flood studies, site seismic safety studies and technical feasibility studies conducted by Westinghouse and EDF, with the aim of obtaining an assessment of the technical possibilities for the construction and operation of planned unit. (DPN)
After GEN Energija submitted a proposal for an initiative to prepare a national spatial plan (DPN – državnega prostorskega načrta) to the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy in October 2024, the process is expected to begin by the summer. A decision on the preparation of the DPN by the government is expected by the end of the year. This will be followed by preparation of the environmental report as part of the comprehensive environmental impact assessment. The next steps will include public unveiling of the DPN, and a cross-border environmental impact assessment.
The meeting of the municipal council was also attended by the State Secretary for the National Nuclear Program in the Office of the Prime Minister Danijel Levičar, who presented government activities on the JEK2 project. As he emphasized, this is a high-priority intergenerational strategic project aimed at a long-term and stable supply of low-carbon and all available energy.
He highlighted a series of preparatory activities carried out with the aim of enabling a decision to be made on the implementation of the project, including preparation for siting, selection of a financial model and selection of an equipment supplier. A special focus is on the integration of the local or regional environment, whose support and recognition of development opportunities and needs are crucial for the further development of the project.
Meanwhile, introductory meetings were held with EDF representatives in mid-February and with Westinghouse representatives in early March, at which they became acquainted with the location of the planned NPP. The JEK2 project team says that EDF and Westinghouse will complete their studies “in the third quarter of this year”.
