Slovenia has officially submitted a proposal to Croatia for the construction of a new joint nuclear power plant, Krsko 2. The terms presented in the proposal are considerably less favorable for Croatia compared to the existing ownership structure of NPP Krsko, where both countries currently hold equal 50 percent stakes.
According to Slovenia’s plan, Croatia would receive only a 25 percent share in the second unit and would have no decision-making rights. Another 25 percent would be allocated to the Slovenian state-owned utility GEN, while the Slovenian government would retain a controlling 51 percent stake. Furthermore, Croatia would not have access to the electricity produced by the plant. Instead, it would receive a quarter of the profits from electricity sales, which would be directed exclusively to the Slovenian market.
Energy experts in Croatia have sharply criticized the proposal, arguing that the terms threaten the country’s energy security. They emphasize that Croatia requires access to electricity itself, not just financial returns, especially as affordable energy is essential for government policies, including subsidies for vulnerable households.
The proposal comes just months after a meeting between the Slovenian and Croatian prime ministers, where both sides expressed general interest in cooperating on a new nuclear facility. At that meeting, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob highlighted Slovenia’s interest in Croatian participation, while Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stressed a preference for continuing cooperation under the current joint ownership model, adapted to ensure long-term energy security.
Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar recently stated that his personal preference would be for a nuclear plant to be constructed on Croatian soil, underscoring the importance of domestic control over future energy capacity.
