Slovenia’s Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy has restarted the process to assess whether electricity generation from renewable sources outweighs nature protection concerns for the planned Mokrice hydropower plant. This follows a 2023 Administrative Court ruling that annulled the Government’s previous decision due to procedural issues.
The renewed procedure is part of the integrated permitting process required to secure a construction permit for the Mokrice facility and its associated infrastructure.
HPP Mokrice is planned as the fifth and final plant in the lower Sava river cascade, complementing the existing Bostanj, Blanco, Krsko, and Brezice HPPs. Initial completion was projected for 2018, but spatial planning challenges and regulatory disputes have repeatedly delayed the project. In 2022, the outgoing Government deemed electricity production a prevailing public interest, allowing the project to move forward. The Administrative Court, however, overturned that decision after a legal challenge by the Slovenian Fish Research Society, citing misapplication of legislation and procedural irregularities.
The project has long been divisive. Environmental groups warn that even with mitigation measures, the facility could significantly impact the ecologically sensitive confluence of the Krka, Sava, and Sotla rivers. The investor, Hidroelektrarne na spodnji Savi (HESS), argues that the plant is essential for Slovenia’s energy self-sufficiency and for ensuring the efficient operation of the lower Sava hydropower system. HPP Mokrice is also referenced in national energy planning documents, underlining its strategic importance.
