The Krško nuclear power plant is extending its operation for another 20 years
The Slovenian government issued an environmental permit to extend the life of the Krško nuclear power plant until 2043. The environmental impact assessment was made by a multinational working group from about thirty countries, and was carried out by the Slovenian Ministry of the Environment.
The Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning of Slovenia conducted an environmental impact assessment for extending the working life of the Krško nuclear power plant (NEK) until 2043.
The assessment team found no safety risks in extending the working life of the power plant from 40 to 60 years. The process lasted more than two years, and more than 50 experts from institutions in Slovenia and Croatia and NEK employees participated in it.
The assessment did not identify any safety risks in extending the working life of the power plant from 40 to 60 years
NEK has a power of 696 MW and covers 20% of electricity consumption in Slovenia and 14% in Croatia.
The factory is located in the eastern part of the country, on the border with Croatia. It has been operating since 1981, and is co-owned by the Slovenian state energy company Gen Energija and Hrvatske elektroprivreda (HEP).
International cooperation on impact assessment
The instructions for the implementation of the environmental impact assessment were drawn up by an international working group from as many as 30 countries, led by Germany and Great Britain, the Slovenian Ministry points out.
The focus of the assessment was on safety improvements, reduced likelihood of environmental accidents and earthquakes, and resilience to the impact of climate change and other external factors.
All four neighboring countries participated in cross-border consultations
All four neighboring countries, Croatia, Austria, Italy and Hungary, along with Germany, participated in cross-border consultations.
By implementing the procedure and issuing the consent, Slovenia acted in accordance with the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context and the guidelines of the United Nations – UNECE, said Slovenian Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Uroš Brežan.
Krško is prepared for operation until 2043
After the overhaul and technological upgrade, NEK now meets the criteria defined by the EU taxonomy for long-term operation of nuclear power plants.
Stanislav Rožman, president of the NEK Management Board, said that all procedures are in the final phase and that there is no need for physical technological upgrades.
NO Krško has a dry storage for used nuclear fuel, completed at the end of 2022. This year, the first action to remove used fuel from the pool to dry storage is also planned.
With this move, the NEK will fulfill all the conditions and implement all the decisions of the administrative bodies to extend the service life, Rožman pointed out.
NGOs played an important role
The Ministry conducted an environmental impact assessment following a lawsuit filed by non-governmental organizations in Slovenia.
The lawsuit sought the annulment of the decision of the Slovenian Environmental Agency (ARSA) that such an assessment is not necessary for extending the operation of the nuclear power plant.
The Ministry conducted an environmental impact assessment following a lawsuit by non-governmental organizations
A similar decision was made by the European Court when, after Greenpeace’s lawsuit for the Duel 1 and Duel 2 nuclear plants in Belgium, it considered such a case for the first time and ruled that an environmental impact assessment must be carried out.
Studies for these power plants are underway, but not yet completed, making the Slovenian study the first environmental impact assessment in Europe for extending the operation of a nuclear power plant.
Referendum for the second reactor in Krško
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob recently announced a referendum on the planned second block of the NEK, which will take place after the selection of the reactor technology. His Croatian colleague Andrej Plenković said that he supports the expansion of the factory.
The Prime Minister announced a referendum on the planned second unit of the power plant after the reactor technology is selected
Three environmental organizations have filed a lawsuit over issued energy permits for the planned second block, so the expansion of the NEK is currently disputed.
The construction of the second block would cost between 5 and 6 billion euros, and its annual production would be 8,800 GWh. The decision on the new block should be made in the next five years, Golob said.
Post views: 3