Croatia on the nuclear path: new law targets 30% nuclear by 2040

The Croatian government submitted a draft law on the development of nuclear energy to the Parliament, which formalized the strategic decision to build its own nuclear capacity. Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar said that the goal is not only a new source of electricity, but “a strategic decision that confirms commitment to energy security and technological progress”

Ambitious deadlines and plans

The new law imposes a strict dynamic for the state administration: a six-month deadline to start planning the civil nuclear program after the adoption of the law, a twelve-month deadline in which the Government must adopt a complete nuclear energy development plan. And the goals are that by 2040, nuclear energy must make up at least 30% of Croatia’s energy mix.

Own power plant or JEK2?

Croatia, which currently receives part of its electricity from the Slovenian power plant Krško (of which it is a co-owner), is now opening the door for its own reactors. Although participation in the Slovenian JEK2 project is still officially under consideration, the new Working Group for Nuclear Energy is already analyzing potential locations on the territory of Croatia. The focus is on the economic and financial comparison of small modular reactors (SMRs) in relation to conventional large power plants.

According to the media in Croatia, Slovenia allegedly sent Croatia an official proposal for a partnership in the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Krško (JEK2), and the alleged proposal is significantly less favorable for Croatia than the current way of managing the Krško nuclear power plant, in which both parties have a 50% ownership share.

Namely, according to the alleged proposal from last September, Croatia was offered a quarter share in the future nuclear power plant, but without decision-making rights. As Novi list reported at the time, according to the proposal, Croatia would not actually use the electricity produced in Krško, but, in accordance with its co-ownership share, would receive a quarter of the profit from the sale of electricity exclusively on the Slovenian market. At the time, the Croatian media called this offer a “stepmother’s” one.