Infrastructure Ministry

Opposition fails to exclude foreign capital from Koper-Divača project

Ljubljana – The National Assembly has narrowly rejected opposition-sponsored changes to the act on the construction of a new railway line between the port of Koper and Divača seeking to strike out the option that allows foreign capital to be invested in the project. Coalition MPs pointed to the role of foreign countries in the port’s development.

Former environment minister forming new party

Ljubljana – Former Environment Minister Jure Leben is returning to politics to launch the Party of Green Action (Z.DEJ), whose founding congress will be held online on Saturday. In conceiving the manifesto, the main question was how to find a balance between industrial development and environment protection, he told the newspaper Delo.

Execs for clear timeline of coal phaseout

Ljubljana – Business executives from Savinja-Šalek, a region with a major coal-fired power station and a coal mine, want a clear timeline of Slovenia’s planned phasing out of coal by 2033, as well as a stable new source of electricity, as businesses are expected to expand and need more electricity in the future.

NGO welcomes govt plan for coal phaseout by 2033

Ljubljana/Šoštanj/Velenje – Focus has welcomed the government’s proposal to phase out coal in Slovenia by 2033, saying this is the most sensible decision given the three potential scenarios to restructure Slovenia’s two coal regions. Still, it believes that given the Paris Agreement, Slovenia should drop coal by 2030, just like 14 other EU members.

Coal phaseout strategy sent into public consultation

Ljubljana, 15 March – The Infrastructure Ministry has launched a public consultation on the draft national strategy to phase out coal and restructure the country’s two coal regions. The document applies to Savinja-Šalek, which has coal-fired power station TEŠ and a coal mine, and to Zasavje, where there are no longer any active mines or thermal plants.

One bid submitted for second section of Divača-Koper track

Ljubljana – Only one contractor has submitted a bid for a second part of the planned Koper-Divača rail section, 2TDK, the state-run company managing the project said on Monday. A consortium led by Slovenian Kolektor CPG values the works on the Črni Kal-Koper section at EUR 224.75 million, excluding VAT.

Government eases testing requirement for taxi drivers

Ljubljana, 25 February – Following protests by taxi drivers over the requirement that they be tested for the novel coronavirus every 72 hours, the government decided on Wednesday that, from now on, they will need to get tested only once a week. This also applies to drivers in public passenger transport and staff in railway transport.

E-tolling contract in parliamentary spotlight

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Commission for Oversight of Public Finances debated Friday the selection of Slovakia’s Skytoll for an e-tolling system for cars. While the opposition alleged irregularities, motorway company DARS and the Infrastructure Ministry rejected any impropriety. The MPs asked the anti-graft commission to look into the tender.

Slovenia looking to better utilise geothermal energy potential

Ljubljana – Slovenia is looking to better utilise its geothermal energy potential, not only for tourism, but also in seeking innovative solutions in many other fields, including food production and district heating. There are already some good examples in this respect, heard an online event held to present the GEOFOOD project.

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