Slovenian Minister of Infrastructure Jernej Vrtnovec and State Secretary Blaz Kosorok talked about the starting points of the concept of the future of Slovenian energy sector.
According to the Minister, the national strategy which envisages Slovenia’s coal phase-out in 2033 should be adopted this year. Thus, Slovenia will join the vast majority of EU member states that have already adopted this decision. At this point, it is crucial to set the deadline for coal exit, because setting the deadline allows the usage of European funds for economic restructuring, otherwise they will not be available. The adoption of the strategy is just the beginning of work or a key political orientation, while the implementation of the goals of the strategy will be a long process, said Minister Vrtnovec.
The strategy for the economic restructuring of the Savinjsko-Saleska region (coal mining region of Slovenia) is based on obtaining 235 million euros from the European Fund for Fair Transition and a final investment of one billion euros for a comprehensive restructuring of the economy of the region. In this way, the Ministry’s goal is to take care of every employee, thus preventing the negative social and economic consequences of closing the Velenje coalmine.
Minister Vrtnovec said that the decision on the possible construction of a new unit at nuclear power plant Krsko can be issued on the basis of a new climate strategy that will be adopted in the Parliament soon. Activities on the construction of spent radioactive fuel storage facility in Vrbina are progressing according to plan, which is a key precondition for ensuring the extension of the operational life of NPP Krsko.
