Slovenia’s newly appointed Minister for Infrastructure and Energy, Jernej Vrtovec, has presented an ambitious energy agenda focused on expanding the country’s low-carbon energy capacity, with nuclear energy, advanced technologies, and hydropower development placed at the center of national priorities.
Following his appointment, Minister Vrtovec identified the proposed second unit of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (Krško 2) as one of the most important strategic projects for the Ministry. He also emphasized growing interest in small modular reactors (SMRs), the use of artificial intelligence in energy systems, and other emerging technologies that could significantly shape the future structure of Slovenia’s national energy sector.
According to the Minister, the Government is currently preparing several international agreements and strategic commitments aimed at accelerating progress on the Krško 2 project. He stressed that the initiative has entered a sensitive and decisive phase, where key decisions taken during the preparation stage could have a long-term impact on construction timelines, financing, and overall project implementation.
Alongside nuclear development, hydropower expansion is expected to play a major role in Slovenia’s energy strategy. Minister Vrtovec announced plans to accelerate spatial planning procedures and permitting processes for three hydropower projects on the Middle Sava River, while also advancing preparations for the long-discussed Mokrice hydropower plant. He noted that a final decision on the Mokrice project could be reached in the near future.
The Minister also addressed the resilience and stability of Slovenia’s electricity system, expressing confidence in its ability to handle demanding operational conditions. However, he underlined that strengthening the security, flexibility, and robustness of the national power grid will remain a key priority for the Ministry in the coming years as the country continues its energy transition.
