The Government opts for a referendum on the nuclear power plant Krško

Ljubljana, 23 January - The Slovenian Government suggests that the citizens of Slovenia decide on the closing down of the nuclear power plant Krško, to be effected by the end of 1995. The Government will suggest to the Slovenian Assembly that the referendum be simultaneous with the general elections to be held on June 21. The costs of the referendum, estimated at about 30 million Tollars, would thus be saved, stated the Vice-president of the Government, Mr. Leo Šešerko. The referendum option on the closing down of nuclear power plants was already effected in several other European countries, such as Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Italy, that thus consulted their citizens on their views. The Slovenian Government is well aware of the problems that will arise with the closing down of the nuclear facility in Krško and that will mostly affect Croatia and its economy, however, the closing down of the facility was already pondered on before the outbreak of the war in Croatia. The nuclear power plant Krško stands for one fourth of the total electricity production in Slovenia and the Government is preparing an energy restructuration project that should be simultaneous with the closing down of the nuclear facility in Krško. A project of gradual closing down of the facility in Krško will also be considered as well as a lasting solution to the nuclear waste disposal problems. It is already clear at this point that an optimized closing down of the nuclear facility by the end of 1995 will cost about 950 million ECU. It is also well known that the neighboring states would back up the closing down of the nuclear power plant Krško as the Austrian Parliament already granted 45 million Shillings to be delivered as help to Slovenia for its energy restructuration in case it should opt for a closing down of the nuclear facility in Krško. Austria is also involved in the construction of a chain of hydro-power stations along the river Sava, that should eventually take on the role of the Krško facility.