Education and training
There are no possibilities for studying for a Bachelor’s degree in the nuclear field in Slovenia.
At the Master’s degree level, there are two possibilities at the University of Maribor/Univerza v Mariboru, which has a programme in the area of nuclear energy in the Faculty of Energy and the Faculty of Civil Engineering, which offers a Nuclear Power Engineering postgraduate programme.
At the Doctorate level, the University of Ljubljana/Univerza v Ljubljani offers a degree in Mathematics and Physics with a specialization in the nuclear field, the Nuclear Physics Module.
In 2009, the Technical High School in Krško introduced a course on the basic knowledge of nuclear engineering for mechanical and electrical engineers.
The most important research institutions are the University of Ljubljana and the Institute Josef Stefan/Institut Jožef Stefan (IJS), which operates a TRIGA Mark II research reactor.
Among the centres and support services is the Nuclear Training Centre which organizes training courses for future Krško nuclear power plant operators.
Human resources and knowledge management
There is one nuclear reactor operating in Slovenia: KRSKO (PWR).This reactor is co-owned with Croatia. Nuclear accounts for 40% of the total electricity production in the country.
In 2006, a package of Slovenian National Development Projects was adopted by the government. It includes also a project of “Building a second NPP at Krško site” as an option. Krsko Nuclear Power Plant, Slovenia’s only nuclear site has to be shut down by 2023, but the government is considering extending its lifetime.
On 20 November 2009, the Economy Minister, Matej Lahovnik, announced that the planned second reactor at the Krsko Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) would be completed between 2020 and 2025.
On 14 January 2010, the Slovenian utility, GEN-energija, sent an application to the Economy Ministry for a permit to build a second unit at the Krsko Nuclear Power Plant. The utility plans to build a generation III PWR reactor with a capacity from 1100MW to 1600MW.
The Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration (SNSA)/Uprava Republike Slovenije za jedrsko varnost is the national regulatory body for nuclear facilities. The Slovenian Radiation Protection Administration (SRPA)/Uprava Republike Slovenije za varstvo pred sevanji is responsible for all aspects of radiation protection, including the use of radiation sources in medicine and the harmful effects of ionizing radiation on humans. The Agency for Radwaste Management/Agencija za radioaktivne odpadke (ARAO) is responsible for the management (and storage) of low and intermediate level radioactive waste.
The Nuclear Society of Slovenia/Društvo Jedrskih Strokovnjakov Slovenije is highly involved in the dissemination of knowledge in the nuclear field.