Photo: GEN energija
Westinghouse Electric signed a contract with Slovenia’s state-owned power company GEN energija to conduct a technical feasibility study for the deployment of an AP1000 reactor, together with Hyundai Engineering and Construction. Their competitor French EDF is doing a separate study.
Slovenia is planning to build the second unit of its Krško nuclear power plant. GEN energija, the existing facility’s operator, revealed that Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) dropped out, leaving Westinghouse Electric and EDF in the race.
The state-owned utility said the focus this year of the NEK 2 project, or JEK 2 in Slovenian, would be on spatial planning and internal studies. Westinghouse Electric signed a contract with GEN energija to conduct a technical feasibility study for the deployment of an AP1000 reactor. The United States–based contractor said it partnered with South Korean Hyundai Engineering and Construction for the task.
French state-owned EDF is conducting a separate study and both are worth EUR 8.3 million, according to GEN energija. They are expected to be delivered by the end of September, the announcement adds.
Westinghouse Electric leaning on existing partnership in Krško
Half of the existing Krško nuclear power plant is owned by neighboring Croatia’s government-controlled Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP Group). The facility is based on Westinghouse’s technology.
There are six AP1000 reactors in operation for now in the world
“Since delivering the first Krško unit, which has operated very successfully since it started operating in 1983, Westinghouse has built a decades-long partnership with GEN energija through operational and fueling support,” said President of Westinghouse Energy Systems Dan Lipman. In his view, the potential AP1000 project will provide clean and reliable baseload power and deliver real economic benefits and high-quality jobs for years to come while fostering Slovenia’s energy independence.
AP1000 is the only operating generation 3+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design and the smallest footprint per megawatt of electricity capacity on the market, Westinghouse stressed. Six units came online so far, twelve are under construction and five are under contract, the company said. As for the region that Balkan Green Energy News covers, one project is underway in Bulgaria.
Hyundai Engineering and Construction is its partner there as well.
Paravan: Every energy development scenario brings specific risks
GEN energija’s Chief Executive Officer Dejan Paravan commended the initiative by Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob to establish a comprehensive, professional and constructive public debate on the country’s energy future.
“We are advocates of a combined scenario of renewable energy sources and nuclear energy, which in the long term enables the achievement of the goals for decarbonization, energy self-sufficiency and economic and social development of Slovenia. At the same time, we are aware that every energy development scenario brings uncertainty and risks and that no technology is perfect,” he explained.
The utility said it would also conduct a preliminary feasibility analysis this year of projects for small modular reactors (SMRs) in Slovenia and and discuss the matter with providers of the technology.
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