Page 135 - bne IntelliNews Southeastern Europe Outlook 2025

pace of transition away from fossil fuels will likely remain gradual in the near term.
7.11 Energy & Power – Slovenia
One of Slovenia’s most significant energy projects is the construction of a second unit at the Krško nuclear power plant (JEK2). A referendum to gauge public support for the project was planned for November but was cancelled due to political disagreements. Despite this, the project is expected to move forward.
Dejan Paravan, the general director of Slovenia's GEN Energija, announced plans to expand the company’s focus to include small modular reactors (SMRs) following the referendum’s cancellation.
The JEK2 project, estimated to cost between €9.3bn and €15.4bn, had been part of the government’s efforts to engage the public in shaping the country’s energy future.
The project envisions the construction of one or two nuclear reactor units with a combined capacity of up to 2,400 MW, adjacent to the existing Krsko plant. A final investment decision (FID) is expected by 2028.
Slovenia took a major step towards meeting the goals of the European Green Deal by signing a memorandum of cooperation with the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking on November 21.
The memorandum aims to support Slovenia in building a strong hydrogen ecosystem by providing access to expertise, capacity-building initiatives and financial resources.
The Slovenian Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Affairs has published a draft law on the phased closure of the Velenje coal mine, now open for public consultation until November 25, 2024. The draft law aims to establish a clear legal framework for the gradual cessation of operations at Premogovnik Velenje, while permitting coal extraction to continue meeting Slovenia’s critical energy and system needs until December 31, 2033.
The proposal details plans for the systematic shutdown of mining activities in the Velenje area and the eventual liquidation of Premogovnik Velenje, the company managing the mine.
Slovenia's share of energy from renewable sources reached 25% in gross final energy consumption in 2023, meeting its obligation under the EU directive on renewable energy, the statistics office said on November 5. This is a 0.07 percentage point (pp) increase from 2022, when the country first achieved the target through the statistical transfer
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