Slovenia's U-turn: referendum on new nuclear plant cancelled

Slovenia has cancelled a referendum on a new nuclear plant less than a month before its scheduled date. The country has been intensively preparing a project to build a new nuclear unit at the Krško power plant over the past several years. The government is still expected to decide on construction in 2028, but it is unclear whether a replacement referendum will be held before then. Slovenia currently operates one 730 MW nuclear unit jointly with neighbouring Croatia.

Slovenian lawmakers decided to cancel a referendum on a new nuclear unit at the Krško power plant (JEK2), which was due to be held on 24 November. The same lawmakers had decided to hold it just days before cancelling it. Voters were to answer the question: "Do you support the implementation of the JEK 2 project, which, together with other low-carbon sources, will ensure a stable electricity supply?"

As the date approached, however, lawmakers faced mounting criticism and questions which, they said, along with misleading information in the media, called into question the public's ability to make an informed decision. Some interest groups also began challenging the wording of the question itself and the constitutionality of the planned referendum.

"Personally, I am pleased that there will be no referendum. I will always stress that considerably more information is needed for such a referendum," Slovenia's President Nataša Pirc Musar was quoted as saying by the state agency STA.

The Slovenian prime minister committed to holding a referendum in a statement at the end of 2022. Since the government plans to make a final investment decision by 2028, a referendum could still be held in the coming years. The project envisages construction of the unit beginning in 2032.

Public information

The Slovenian government sought to ensure transparency around the project through a working group established last October. In addition to publishing analyses on the unit's safety, size and estimated cost, a "roadshow" was held in major Slovenian cities to inform the public about nuclear energy.

"We have witnessed biased and incomplete media coverage. This has given the public the impression that all decisions on the procedures for adopting both the resolution on the long-term peaceful use of nuclear energy and the decree on the referendum were the result of arbitrary decision-making by elected representatives," said Miha Lamut, an MP from the Freedom Movement party.

The working group will now commission further analyses, which are expected to be published next year to support public debate. The government is also planning a special law to support more efficient implementation of a project of this scale.

Slovenia operates one pressurized water reactor unit with a gross capacity of 730 MW at the Krško power plant. The plant, whose operating life is planned to extend until 2043, is operated jointly with neighbouring Croatia.