Slovenia’s Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Jernej Vrtovec, has raised questions over whether a referendum will be required for the planned NPP Krško expansion, while also calling for broader participation from investors beyond the state.
He stated that a project of this scale should not rely exclusively on state ownership, arguing that the inclusion of private and international investors could help distribute financial risk and improve oversight of the project.
The minister estimated the total value of the expansion at more than €15 billion, suggesting that neighboring countries, investment funds, and Slovenian companies could all take part. He also noted that several domestic businesses have already expressed interest in participation.
Although current plans foresee a referendum in 2028, Vrtovec emphasized that such a vote is not explicitly included in the governing coalition agreement. At the same time, he stressed the importance of continued dialogue with local communities and key stakeholders.
According to him, broader investor involvement would not reduce Slovenia’s strategic control over the project, as the state could still retain a controlling ownership stake while allowing additional capital participation.
The minister also 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.
While Westinghouse currently holds an advantage due to its existing technology presence at the current Krško nuclear plant, he stressed that the final supplier selection process remains open and competitive.
The main challenge, according to the minister, lies in permitting and spatial planning procedures, which remain the most complex part of project development.
Preparatory work is already underway, involving transmission system operator ELES and state-owned GEN Energija, with a potential final investment decision expected within the next 18 months.
