The agreements were signed in the presence of French Ambassador to Slovenia Florence Lévy and Slovenian State Secretary Jure Gašparič from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, reflecting the commitment of both nations to advancing nuclear technology.
The signatories emphasized the role of nuclear energy in achieving Europe’s 2050 climate neutrality goals and bolstering energy independence.
The agreements aim to strengthen Slovenia’s and Europe’s nuclear sector, particularly as Slovenia considers the possibility of constructing a new unit at the Krško nuclear power plant (NEK/JEK)
One of the key memoranda was between EDF and Slovenia’s Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS), focusing on research and development for nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs). EDF’s Senior Vice President for International Nuclear Development, Vakisasai Ramany, highlighted Slovenia’s strategic position in the company’s European vision, stating, “Our key goal is to deploy a European fleet of nuclear reactors developed by EDF to address the challenges of energy security, competitiveness, and sovereignty.” The agreement also involves collaboration on training, joint research initiatives, and the potential installation of a new research reactor at IJS.
Simultaneously, the University of Maribor signed an MoU with I2EN to develop new academic programs in nuclear science and technology. The initiative aims to promote student exchanges, joint European projects, and internships in France, helping to build the next generation of nuclear experts. Slovenia’s State Secretary Gašparič emphasized that nuclear energy, alongside renewables, is essential for the green transition, and international partnerships are key to developing a safe and successful nuclear program.
