Will Slovenia build a second nuclear power plant?

Slovenia aims to decide by 2028 whether it will build its second nuclear power plant. The government is targeting a 55.4% share of renewables in electricity, 45.2% in heating and cooling and 25.8% in transportation, according to the updated NECP for 2030.

Is nuclear energy the future of Slovenia's energy mix?

In July 2021, following Parliament’s approval of Slovenia’s long-term climate strategy, the Ministry of Infrastructure issued the energy permit for the second reactor at Krško nuclear power plant, sending a strong signal on the future role of nuclear energy in Slovenia’s energy mix.

Will Slovenia's only coal power plant close in 2033?

The Fit-for-55 goal of a 55% drop in emissions is for 2030. Slovenia aims to achieve it only by 2033, the deadline it set for quitting the use of coal. But chances are that the country’s only coal power plant, Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (TEŠ), and its accompanying mine Premogovnik Velenje, will close within a few years or operate at minimum capacity.

Why should Slovenia participate in Project Phoenix?

“Participation in Project Phoenix provides Slovenia with an opportunity to fulfill the commitments of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NEPN), which includes examining the possibilities of introducing new nuclear technologies,” emphasized Tina Seršen, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment, Climate, and Energy.

How many coal-fired thermal power plants are in Slovenia?

Slovenia currently operates one coal-fired thermal power plant – the 600 MW Thermal Power Plant Šoštanj sixth unit (TEŠ), which came into operation in 2014. In January 2022, Slovenian government adopted a national strategy to phase out coal by 2033, adopting a more ambitious timeline than was initially considered.

Where does Slovenia's electricity come from?

Roughly one-third of Slovenia’s electricity comes from hydroelectric sources, one-third from thermal sources, and one-third from nuclear power (with non-hydro renewables constituting two percent of the total). Almost half of Slovenia’s total energy consumption consists of imported petroleum purchased on global markets.