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Slovenia considers construction of a new nuclear reactor

Slovenian Prime Minister has announced his support to the construction of a second nuclear reactor at the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK), Slovenia's sole nuclear power plant, to replace the existing one beyond 2043. A new reactor would be needed to help sustain the country’s economic growth, facing increasing demand for electricity. By the time the existing reactor is planned to close, the Šoštanj coal power plant TEŠ will have ceased to operate, so Slovenia will have to find alternative energy sources. The government has not yet made a final decision on whether to build a second reactor.

At present the 688 MW Krško reactor, which is equally owned by Slovenia and Croatia, covers about a fifth of Slovenian electricity needs. Commissioned in 1981, it was originally scheduled to close in 2023. In 2016, Slovenia and Croatia agreed to extend NEK’s lifespan by 20 years to 2043. Several activist groups have pressed for its dismantling because of its age and because of earthquake risks in the region. Gen Energija, the public company that owns the Slovenian half of NEK, has been considering a second nuclear reactor of 1,100-1,600 MW on the Krško site for a long time. However, the extension of the operation license of Krško-1 to 2043, as well as cost escalation (from €2-5bn to €6bn-€8bn due to additional post-Fukushima safety requirements), have suspended project development so far

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