Slovenia’s Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Jernej Vrtovec has raised questions about whether a referendum will be required for the planned NPP Krško expansion. He also called for broader investor participation beyond state ownership. Vrtovec said the project should not rely exclusively on state control, arguing that private and international investors could help distribute financial risk and improve oversight.
The minister estimated the total value of the expansion at more than €15 billion. He suggested neighboring countries, investment funds, and Slovenian companies could participate, and noted that several domestic businesses have already expressed interest. He also indicated that broader capital involvement would not reduce Slovenia’s strategic control, as the state could retain a controlling ownership stake.
Potential referendum timing and coalition agreement status
Current plans foresee a referendum in 2028, according to Vrtovec’s remarks. He emphasized that a referendum is not explicitly included in the governing coalition agreement. At the same time, he stressed continued dialogue with local communities and key stakeholders.
Vrtovec’s position linked investor participation to maintaining state control over the project structure. He said additional investor involvement would allow capital participation while preserving the state’s controlling ownership stake.
Nuclear energy role and supplier selection process
Vrtovec reaffirmed strong support for nuclear energy, describing NPP Krško 2 as Slovenia’s most important option for securing new large-scale baseload electricity generation capacity. He said Westinghouse currently has an advantage due to its existing technology presence at the current Krško nuclear plant. The minister added that the final supplier selection process remains open and competitive.
He identified permitting and spatial planning procedures as the main challenge for project development. Vrtovec said these processes remain the most complex part of advancing the project.
Preparatory work and expected investment decision window
Preparatory work is already underway involving transmission system operator ELES and state-owned GEN Energija. The minister indicated that a potential final investment decision is expected within the next 18 months. The timeline is tied to ongoing preparatory steps for the expansion.
