Krsko Nuclear Plant, Slovenia’s only nuclear power plant recently shutdown early this week because of some minor incident. However, it has failed to restart last Thursday due to certain technical problems. According to Ida Novak Jerele, the spokeswoman of the said plant, the system switched off last Wednesday due to an electrical power problem and last Thursday, it failed to restart as planned. But, there is no danger related to the failed restart of Krsko.

Furthermore, the spokeswoman claimed that there were “synchronization” problems discovered that’s why it failed to restarted. There were also “deviations” in the plant’s lubrication oil systems that added to the problem.

Slovenia’s only nuclear power plant was established in 1983 by Westinghouse and was both owned by Slovenia and Croatia. It currently has 2,000 megawatt reactor. The last problem encountered by the plant was in June 2008 wherein there was a faulty valve that led to a water leak causing increase alarms within Europe.

Various environmentalists have pushed the closure of the plant before its scheduled shut down this 2023, yet the Slovenian government is planning to build another reactor this coming 2013.

Termoelektrarna Sostanj recently received their very first tranche of 550 million-euro or $750 million loan coming from the European Investment Bank. The purpose of the loan is to enhance the thermal power plant owned by Slovenia. This power plant is located in Sostanj, northern part of Slovenia. The 110 million-euro tranche was given after the power plant was able to get an environmental permit which was the agreement of the government and the bank. The upgrade cost for the Sostanj plant is approximately 1.2 billion euros and is considered the largest energy investment of Slovenia since they got their independence 20 years ago. For the equipment, Alstom SA of France will be the ones to provide.

Among the 5 European countries who citizens are granted to work temporarily in the United States, Slovenian citizens are one of them. The citizens will be on special guest worker visas as claimed by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) last Friday. Included in the 5 European countries aside from Slovenia are Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, and FYR Macedonia.

Samuel Zbogar, Slovenian Foreign Minister has emphasized the vitality of enhancing the ties with Iran in all areas stressing out that Tehran is viewed as a key partner of Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city.

Based on the meeting together with the Iranian Ambassador to Ljubljana Mohammad Rahim Aqaeipour, the Slovenian minister claimed that the inauguration of Iran’s embassy within their country is a beginning of the improvement of bilateral relations in different political, economic and cultural fields.

They emphasized that Slovenia and Iran have a great potential for flourishing the economic situation. Last November 14, Aqaeipour, the first Iranian ambassador to Ljubljana passed his credentials to Slovenian President Danilo Turk.

The investors in different casinos within Slovenia might be eligible for tax breaks once they likewise invest in tourism. The Slovenian state is willing to lessen their ownership below 51% in special cases based on the newest gaming strategy that the Slovenian government is scheduled to adopt soon. The gaming tax is said to be regressive, proportionate depending on how much casino operators invest in tourism. Furthermore, according to Finance Minister France Krizanic, the gaming tax and concession will be combined into one tax. Slovenia’s draft strategy states four categories of gaming establishments which are as follows: mega entertainment centre, gaming and entertainment centre, grand casino, as well as casino. Small gaming parlours are said to continue on their operation but their numbers will be lessened.

Eight immigrants from Sudan and Somalia left Malta to begin a new life in Slovenia. This is actually the first time this will happen. The 8 immigrants are composed of 6 men and two women who will be provided with housing, language courses and other services which is the first step to attaining self-sufficiency and integration.

This step is part of the European Re-allocation for Malta (Eurema) pilot project that originated from EU’s Pact for Immigration and Asylum. Together with their departure is the referral process conducted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organisation for Migration, the governmental Agency for Welfare of Asylum Seekers, the Malta Emigrants’ Commission, as well as a selection mission by the Slovenian authorities.

The said pilot project was coordinated by the Home Affairs Ministry which is designed to help around 255 individuals with international protection plus involves the participation of nine other member states which are as follows: France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and the UK.

A lot of immigrants have already transferred to other countries and the said project is projected to be concluded in 2011.

Akbar Al Baker, the CEO of Qatar Airways stated that their company will not be taking over Adria Airways. Recently, the two CEOs from Adria and Qatar Airways met at Doha to talk about their likely partnership. Al Baker not claimed that they want to focus on running their business and expand their fleet and destination network.

On the other hand, Lufthansa has expressed their interest in getting the 49% shares in Adria according to the Slovenian “Finance” portal. But Lufthansa has to deal with the rigid scrutiny from the European Commission’s anti monopoly body if it is truly interested with buying the shares of Adria.

The German national carrier was forced to give up some of its frequencies on specific routes like Vienna, London and Brussels after it bought the Austrian, Brussels Airlines and BMI.

Just like other national carriers, Adria Airways is projected to end this year with substantial financial losses. The Slovenian Government has expressed their desire to sell the company’s share in the early part of 2011.

Svetlyak, a Russian patrol ship was under put under Slovenian navy orders, as a way of the USSR to pay debt to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It was placed under the Slovenian Fleet with the ship name Triglav. This is in honor of the highest point within the Balkan state. The ship will likewise serve as a protection for the 43-kilomter coastline of Slovenia.

The total cost of “Triglav” is said to reach 35 million dollars which even didn’t reach half the total debt of Russia to Slovenia which is about 129 million dollars. The ship was made by Almaz, a shipbuilding company.

Last Thursday, Slovenia is open to sell their luxurious government jet that purchased in year 2001 intended to fly high officials around but was never utilized for that reasons. Defense Minister Ljubica Jelusic stated that they are selling the Falcon 2000EX jet for 16.2 million euros or 22 million dollars.

In year 2001, Janez Drnovsek, Sloveni’a late president and prime minister pushed to buying the jet that at that time was about 20 million euros. He claimed that the Slovenian government needed an aircraft to fly its high officials especially on their travel abroad rather than renting a plane each time they travel.

Slovenia’s centre-left government decided early this year to sell their aircraft as a part of their austerity procedures to cope with the present global economic crisis.

The biggest galvanizing plant within the Balkans will be in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina located in Serbia. The facility of Metal-cinkara is owned by the Maksim group and is the biggest Slovenian investment within Serbia. The said facility will be inaugurated tomorrow by Dr. Mirko Cvetkovic, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Borut Pahor, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, as well as, Dr. Bojan Pajtic, the Prime Minister of the Autonomus Province of Vojvodina.