Westinghouse and EDF in running for Slovenia unit, KHNP not bidding

Thursday, 30 January 2025

Slovenia's JEK2 project is for a new one or two-unit nuclear power plant, with up to 2400 MW capacity, next to Krško NPP which has a 696 MWe pressurised water reactor generating about one-third of the country's electricity. Krško is owned and operated by Nuklearna Elektrarna Krško, which is jointly owned by Croatia's Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP Group) and Slovenia's GEN Energija.

The JEK2 project team, following discussions with potential nuclear power plant providers EDF, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Westinghouse, in May last year, estimated the cost for various reactor sizes, ranging from EUR9.314 billion (USD10.1 billion) for a 1000 MW unit, up to EUR15.371 billion for a 1650 MW unit.

At a press conference on Wednesday Bruno Glaser, GEN energija's JEK2 project manager, said that the Technical Feasibility Studies for the two bidders would cost about EUR8.3 million and would assess the technical and legislative requirements and a range of safety and implementation aspects covering construction and operation. The aim of such a study was to ensure "that the project is planned based on realistic technical possibilities and in accordance with the highest safety and technological standards".

According to the company's briefing "the originally planned third bidder, the Korean company KHNP, informed GEN that it will not submit a bid for the preparation of the study and will not participate in the submission of a bid for the construction of the JEK2 project. Their decision is based on an assessment of the current business environment and a change in their strategic business priorities".

Dan Lipman, President of Westinghouse Energy Systems, said: "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. We are pleased to extend the relationship to closely study the feasibility of the Krško-II project. This potential AP1000 project will not only provide clean, reliable baseload power to Slovenians, it will also deliver real economic benefits and high-quality jobs for years to come while fostering Slovenia’s energy independence."

Westinghouse describes the AP1000 as "the only operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design and the smallest footprint per MWe on the market". There are six AP1000 reactors in operation - including Vogtle 3 and 4 in the USA - plus 12 under construction and five more under contract, with AP1000s selected for nuclear programmes in Poland, Ukraine and Bulgaria. It said it had teamed up with Hyundai Engineering & Construction to conduct the Slovenian Technical Feasibility Study.

Slovenia had been due to hold a referendum on new nuclear in November, but that was called off amid a political row over how it was being conducted. Prime Minister Robert Golob said he remained committed to holding a referendum before a final investment decision is taken - which is currently due to be in 2028.

GEN energija said that in 2025 it will also continue to prepare professional studies, namely site safety analysis reports, radiological analyses, flood studies, seismic safety studies and technical feasibility studies. It also said it would be carrying out a pre-feasibility study for the construction of small modular reactors in the country.

Last year Westinghouse, EDF and KHNP were the three bidders for new nuclear in the Czech Republic. KHNP was the winning bidder and an EPC contract is expected to be signed by the end of March, despite EDF and Westinghouse appealing against the decision. Since then it has been announced that Westinghouse and KHNP and Korea Electric Power Cooperation have reached agreement on intellectual property issues - the subject of court cases in the USA - and while details regarding the terms of the settlement remain confidential the companies said "the agreement also sets the stage for future cooperation between the parties to advance new nuclear projects globally".