Slovenia's Gen-Energija in talks with investors on Krsko NPP new unit - report

The participation of foreign investors in the project is possible, and in addition to Croatian power utility Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP), Italian and Slovenian businesses are also interested, public broadcaster RTV quoted Gen-Energija CEO Dejan Paravan as saying on Wednesday.

Gen-Energija is conducting a dialogue with all interested investors, but the final decision also depends on the government, Paravan said.

In October, Paravan said Gen-Energija is considering US-based Westinghouse, France's EDF, and South Korea's KHNP as potential contractors for the construction of the planned second unit at Krsko.

Westinghouse, EDF and KHNP are already contacting potential Slovenian suppliers or subcontractors, Paravan said.

"We are in an intensive dialogue with them about what they offer and what solutions they propose," he added.

Gen-Energija is also considering expanding the planned capacity of the projected second unit at Krsko to 2,400 MW from 1,100 MW to allow more companies to vie for the project, as only Westinghouse has offered to provide a unit of 1,100 MW, Paravan said back in October.

The Krsko nuclear plant, located in Slovenia near the border with Croatia, generates some 40% of Slovenia's electricity output. Situated about 100 kilometres from Austria, the facility operates a Westinghouse pressurised light water reactor with a thermal power capacity of 2,000 MW. The plant's operator, Nuklearna elektrarna Krsko (NEK), is co-owned by Gen-Energija and HEP.