Slovenia cancels referendum on Krško 2 nuclear power plant

The Slovenian parliament canceled a consultative referendum on the construction of the Krško 2 nuclear power plant, which was scheduled for November 24. Only two weeks ago, it voted overwhelmingly to hold the referendum.

The National Assembly in Ljubljana canceled the consultative referendum on the nuclear power plant Krško 2 project, called Jedrska Elektrarna Krško 2 or JEK 2 in Slovenian. It follows a unanimous decision by the parliamentary Committee for Infrastructure, Environment and Spatial Planning to annul the decision to organize the plebiscite.

Previously, on October 10, the lawmakers passed the referendum proposal with a large majority of votes. However, a series of events unfolded, which caused great risk to a yes vote, according to Delo

Slovenia has been preparing the Krško 2 project for a long time to ensure energy security, considering that it plans to shut down the Šoštanj coal-fired power plant called Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (TEŠ) in Slovenian until 2033. The facility is already in big financial trouble. TEŠ generates about 30% of the domestic power production while the country needs to meet decarbonization goals.

An audio recording was leaked from a meeting of lawmakers from both the ruling coalition and opposition and government officials

According to Greenpeace, the referendum was canceled after a scandalous attempt by Slovenian political parties to circumvent the referendum process to push through the nuclear power project.

Namely, RTV Slovenija published an audio recording of alleged informal talks within the parliament building which demonstrates that voters wouldn’t have any say regardless of the referendum outcome, Greenpeace said. Lawmakers from both the ruling coalition and opposition and government officials were reportedly at the meeting.

The leak revealed they intended to circumvent the legislation and outmaneuver the referendum process to speed up the JEK 2 project, the environmentalist group added.

A referendum should be legally binding as a prerequisite for the final decision on JEK2

Even before the scandal occurred, Greenpeace and other nongovernmental organizations claimed the referendum was premature, arguing there was too little information about the project for the voters to make an informed decision.

The referendum question, “Do you support the implementation of the Krško 2 project, which will ensure a stable supply of electricity together with other low-carbon sources?”, was labeled as suggestive and manipulative by Greenpeace Slovenia and several other NGOs in the country. Two applications have been filed with the Constitutional Court challenging the referendum.

Greenpeace Slovenia and its partners demand a law that would determine a referendum as a prerequisite for the final decision on the JEK 2 investment, expected in 2027 or 2028.

Kosirnik: The government should provide a 100% renewables scenario

“After the political actors were caught red-handed, they are now withdrawing their support for the referendum because they are afraid that people will tell them what they don’t want to hear,” said Sara Kosirnik, climate and energy campaigner from Slovenia.

Instead of misleading the public and undemocratically pushing through an expensive nuclear energy project that would only be built decades from now, the government should provide a 100% renewables scenario that would offer people safe, affordable, community-based, and democratic energy, according to her.

Paravan: Nuclear energy is carbon-free, reliable, has little impact on biodiversity and land use, and represents domestic power production

In an recent interview with Balkan Green Energy News Dejan Paravan, CEO of the power utility GEN, which is preparing JEK 2 project, said that in order to secure enough electricity, Slovenia has only nuclear and renewable energy at its disposal. Of the renewable sources, the only viable option is solar, as the hydro potential has been exhausted and wind power projects face serious challenges in finding suitable locations, according to him.

If citizens don’t back Krško 2 in the upcoming referendum, he said Slovenia must rely on renewable energy sources, adding gas-fired power plants, and importing electricity. Paravan noted that nuclear energy is carbon-free, reliable, has little impact on biodiversity and land use, and represents domestic power production, which is important for economy.