WEBVTT

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Good morning.

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I'd like to welcome the head
of the International

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Atomic Energy Agency
in Vienna, Mr. Grossi.

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I'd also like to welcome
all the ministers,

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chairmen, and
other high guests.

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Today's event is intended
to address,

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calmly and before
the campaign gets underway,

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the question of our
nuclear energy future

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in Slovenia and beyond.

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We'll see if we're about
to experience

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a nuclear renaissance
and what that will mean

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for our future energy needs.

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I'd like the debate to be

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as dispassionate as possible
and not focused

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on the upcoming referendum campaign,

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which will begin in two weeks,
so we'll have enough time for it.

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Today, I'd like for us to examine
all the aspects

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of Slovenia's decision
and which issues

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still need to be addressed.

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First and foremost, I'm interested
in our opportunities.

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Everyone agrees that we need
to prepare

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for the climate crisis.
Even worse, we've all

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been affected by the crisis,
especially Slovenia

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over the past two years.

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That's why we can't bury
our heads in the sand

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and ignore our responsibility

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to begin using
technology

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wherever that technology
can be of use.

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Nuclear energy is a part
of the solution

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to the climate crisis,
not a part of the problem.

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That's why it's crucial

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that we have a clear position

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and that we approach this technology
responsibly.

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After all, Slovenia
is already a nuclear energy country,

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one of 33 such nations,
which means we have

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a responsibility to the world,
not just to our people.

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In the end, our decisions
will also affect

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the wider region
and beyond.

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I'd like to give the floor
to Mr. Grossi,

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and then each of you
will get an opportunity

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to express your views.
Those wanting to speak

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can raise their cards,
so I'll be able to see you.

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Go ahead, please.

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Good morning. Thank you
for giving me the floor.

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Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister,
for inviting

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the International Atomic
Energy Agency,

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to take part in the important dialog
that is underway in Slovenia.

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You, Europe, and the world
are at an important crossroads.

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We're facing numerous challenges,
some of which you mentioned.

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Allow me to present my view

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of the issue and to listen to you.

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I'll also try to answer
any questions you may have.

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I'm thrilled to be here today.

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I'm Argentinian, and as you know,

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there are many Slovenians
in Argentina. They've set up

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an important community there

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and are an important part
of our society.

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As a diplomat working
in Vienna,

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I also covered Slovenia
and I have warm feelings

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toward the country.

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As for the issues up for
debate today,

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it's true that we're in a very
complicated period here in Europe

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and internationally.

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We're facing

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a number of challenging issues
at the same time.

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We once again have war in Europe.
There are tensions

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in a region that isn't that far
from Slovenia.

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There is a chance that the conflict
could spread

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and that it will have a significant
effect on Europe

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and the world.

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International peace and security
are facing challenges.

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At the same time, we're facing
an energy security crisis.

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This is something we didn't face
just a few years ago.

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We didn't deal with it,
even though

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we did address certain
aspects that required

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the attention of world leaders
like yourself.

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These included global warming
and climate change.

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These challenges and issues
are all critically important

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for our societies,
our communities.

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The security situation

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has underscored the urgency

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of our decision making.
We need to make decisions

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that will ensure economies
in Europe

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and around the world

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sustainable growth.

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At the same time,
we need decisions

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that will enable us to maintain
our authority

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and independence

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in terms of
the energy mix.

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You brought up
Slovenia's experience.

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It's true that Slovenia
is a nuclear country.

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The story of nuclear energy
in Slovenia began in the 1960s.

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An experimental reactor
was set up first.

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Then, in 1975, you introduced

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Westinghouse's reactor at Krško.

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For almost half a century,
the Krško Nuclear Power Plant

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has operated flawlessly,
without any major

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technical problems. The plant
is working exceptionally well.

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This is something you're aware
of in Slovenia

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and you can be proud of it.
This also enables you

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to plan for the future.
We'll get back to this.

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I'd like to share a few thoughts
from a global perspective

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about how we see the nuclear debate
and the role of nuclear

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energy in that debate.

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The changes were fast
and even dramatic.

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Even a few years ago,

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debates about nuclear energy

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were extremely complex.
They're still complex,

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but those of us active
in this sector

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have always known
that the debate

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is not always based
on technological and scientific

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arguments and facts.

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It was often too heavily
influenced

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by arguments that had little
to do with facts.

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Once people perceive
something as a bad thing,

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that perception can be
difficult to change.

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Nevertheless, things
have changed quickly.

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A few months ago,
at the COPP conference in Dubai,

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where the term "nuclear" was,

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until three or four years ago,
a real taboo,

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and you couldn't discuss
nuclear energy at all

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or you were booed if you tried,
well, at the Dubai COPP,

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it was said that nuclear energy

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needs to be expedited.
More than 190 countries

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that took part in COPP
felt that way.

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It wasn't just 33 nuclear countries,
but rather 33 plus 130

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or even more countries
that wanted

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to expedite the spread
of nuclear energy.

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I'd like to emphasize that
we support

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the use of renewables.
Renewable energy is the key.

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It needs to be promoted,
but only renewables

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are not enough.

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They're not enough
to solve problems

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in the energy sector, problems
that await us.

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This is the mental framework

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that must enable us

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to have a credible debate.
We're not isolated.

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We're not sitting
in some ivory tower.

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The situation is clear.

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As a European country,
Slovenia has an eye

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on its neighborhood
and the EU.

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We can hear an important
message here as well.

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Until just a few years ago,
debates in Brussels

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were complicated. You know
via your representatives

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and ambassadors
what they looked like.

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Within the framework of
a European hierarchy,

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the Commission had to request,

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the Joint Research Center,
the EU's highest scientific

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and technical consultative body,

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to pay more attention
to nuclear energy

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and to determine whether nuclear
energy has any specific

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downsides that would require
it to be pushed aside

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and treated separately from other
energy sources.

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The Joint Research Center
prepared an extensive report

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on this subject.

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The report states
that nuclear energy

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doesn't have any specific
drawbacks or downsides

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that would require it to be
excluded from the Green Deal.

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In fact, the JRC even feels

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that this is an appropriate energy
source that should be utilized.

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I'd like to add

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that even today, people tend
to forget the facts.

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Even before the curve begins
to point upward

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with all the projects
now considered,

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including those in Slovenia,
even now,

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one half of clean energy
produced in Europe

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comes from nuclear sources.

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We're taking about one half,
25% of all energy

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and half of clean energy.

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If we take a broader view

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and look at the entire world,
this represents 25% of clean energy,

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even though it comes from
just 30 nuclear countries.

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This is a technology...

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...of such energy.

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I hope I'm not

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misleading,
or rather burdening you

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with these numbers.

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In the U.S., 20 percent

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of clean energy
comes from nuclear sources.

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These are facts
that you should consider

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when analyzing which decisions
are reasonable and rational.

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Europe is your home
and where you make your decisions.

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When we look
at the Global South,

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the situation there is even clearer.

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Nowadays, China,
which is one of the main problems

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in terms of fossil fuels
and pollution,

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is placing its bets on
nuclear energy.

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We're talking about more than 30
existing reactors,

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24 reactors under construction,

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more than 20 projects
being built in China right now.

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This will increase the share
of nuclear energy

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from five percent today
to 10-12 percent.

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Then there's India,
where the trend is the same.

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And Russia. They have
about 30 nuclear reactors

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and are building even more.
Then we have Latin America,

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Argentina, Mexico, three large
economies.

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As you can see, the connection
is perfectly clear

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in all parts of the world.

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Other countries are also embracing
nuclear technology.

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Mr. Prime Minister, who
would have thought that

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even Gulf countries would want
nuclear energy?

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They have a lot of gas and oil,
so why should they opt

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for nuclear energy?

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In the United Arab Emirates,

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there are four nuclear reactors.
A few years ago, there were none.

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They have no research reactor,

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but they built four nuclear
power plants in ten years

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working with Korea.

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About 30% of their energy
now comes from nuclear energy,

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and they're exporting gas.

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We're now working closely
with Saudi Arabia.

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They also want to set up
a major nuclear program.

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That's the trend we're taking about.

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Africa. For many years,
South Africa was the only

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country there with a nuclear
power plant, but Egypt

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is now building three large
nuclear facilities

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with Russia's help.

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Turkey, a NATO member.

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Four nuclear power plants
with Rosatom's technology.

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So what am I talking about?

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Is this a nuclear revolution? No.

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However, we're seeing a clear
trend in this direction.

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There are various reasons
for this.

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Each country and sub-region

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is following its own reasons
and factors.

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We can discuss this later
if you wish.

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Globally speaking,
we're seeing a clear trend.

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Other countries, including
those in sub-Saharan Africa...

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You know that the IAEA has,
among other things,

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the responsibility to help
countries with what

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we call breakthroughs.

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We help them using 19 steps.

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I'll mention what the UAE did.
The country decided to use

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the so-called "User's Manual"

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to find out what it needed to do
regarding national legislation,

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the national regulator,
public tenders, stakeholders,

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and so on. We're currently working
also closely with Senegal,

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Kenya, Ghana, and several other
countries

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that are seriously thinking
about entering...

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Before I wrap up,
I'd like to mention some new trends

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in the field of nuclear energy
that are just as important.

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These include small modular
reactors.

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They already exist
in Russia and China.

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There are several different
technologies

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that already have approval,
particularly in the U.S.

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We're talking about
new frameworks

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that operate in terms
of terawatts.

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Some others are still being
developed,

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including by Rolls Royce
in the United Kingdom

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and France with its Nuward
project,

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important on a European scale.

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Our Korean colleagues are
developing the Smart project.

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Even Argentina is working
on small modular reactors.

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The interesting thing
about all this

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is that over the next five
to eight years, this trend

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will probably result in more
small modular reactors

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in Canada and elsewhere
around the world,

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including Europe.

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This is a technological solution
that is, at the moment,

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at odds with the history
of nuclear energy,

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a technology
that follows demand.

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Big IT companies,
lik Google and Microsoft,

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and companies
working with AI,

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want the sector to provide more
and to be accelerated.

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As you know,
we are dependent on data centres.

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Our economies, education systems,
everything depends on data.

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And data centres and hubs
use immense amounts of energy.

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They need to be fed with energy
without destabilising the grid.

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With small modular reactors

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we are talking about
à la carte nuclear energy.

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This is a completely new

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and extremely interesting
direction of development.

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Many European countries

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are already focusing
on creating their own data centres.

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They are turning to us, the
International Atomic Energy Agency,

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asking us
how they could implement

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small modular reactors
in their systems.

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This is also important
in desalination.

00:21:54.338 --> 00:21:57.088
In light of the
number of droughts

00:21:57.209 --> 00:22:02.995
and the things we are seeing
happening in our atmosphere,

00:22:03.434 --> 00:22:06.403
we need to desalinate water.

00:22:06.808 --> 00:22:12.058
We need to use seawater
to enable sustainable agriculture.

00:22:12.179 --> 00:22:18.598
Desalination, as you know,
is extremely energy-intensive.

00:22:19.063 --> 00:22:22.853
Many countries in the Gulf
and in Africa

00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:28.821
want to use nuclear reactors
for this purpose as well.

00:22:28.942 --> 00:22:31.146
I could list
even more examples.

00:22:31.267 --> 00:22:35.881
Next year, our agency
will implement a new initiative.

00:22:38.938 --> 00:22:45.212
It is an initiative in the field
of shipping energy.

00:22:45.333 --> 00:22:50.743
8% of global emissions
come from supertankers

00:22:50.864 --> 00:22:53.595
and similar large ships.

00:22:53.790 --> 00:22:56.430
This sector
is already thinking ahead.

00:22:56.586 --> 00:23:03.040
Not about the next 5 or 6 years,
but about the next 50 years

00:23:03.161 --> 00:23:06.875
and what will happen
with the shipping industry.

00:23:07.063 --> 00:23:09.397
They also stand to gain much

00:23:09.518 --> 00:23:13.789
from small modular reactor
technology.

00:23:14.406 --> 00:23:19.823
Prime Minister, I believe this is
a very important moment for you.

00:23:20.320 --> 00:23:23.320
Nuclear energy
needs to be considered

00:23:23.441 --> 00:23:27.804
as a technology with a very
significant competitive advantage.

00:23:27.925 --> 00:23:32.842
Consider 50 years of the safe
utilisation of nuclear energy.

00:23:32.963 --> 00:23:36.316
You will make decisions
on your future.

00:23:36.437 --> 00:23:44.133
I recommend doing so
hand in hand with the IAEA.

00:23:45.790 --> 00:23:48.290
You will take bold steps.

00:23:48.461 --> 00:23:54.128
You will ask the people what they
want regarding their energy future.

00:23:56.657 --> 00:24:00.157
You must show them
that you are cooperating

00:24:00.278 --> 00:24:05.860
with an international institution
that has no commercial interest.

00:24:07.219 --> 00:24:08.899
It is not a lobby,

00:24:09.291 --> 00:24:15.256
we are an institution with
approximately 180 member states,

00:24:15.377 --> 00:24:23.369
and our interest is to see
things going the right way,

00:24:23.490 --> 00:24:26.205
and this is also
the right way for you.

00:24:26.377 --> 00:24:29.700
These are
my general observations.

00:24:31.705 --> 00:24:36.244
I would also like to hear your
analysis on how you will proceed.

00:24:36.365 --> 00:24:40.932
I will listen to you,
your suggestions and criticisms,

00:24:41.622 --> 00:24:47.458
and if I can provide
any sort of input on your topics,

00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:50.875
I will gladly answer
all of your questions.

00:24:50.996 --> 00:24:54.813
Thank you, Director General Grossi,
for your opening address.

00:24:55.922 --> 00:24:59.219
To tie into
his closing statement,

00:25:00.081 --> 00:25:03.268
at this time,
Slovenia really is ahead,

00:25:03.471 --> 00:25:07.555
precisely because of our rich
and positive history

00:25:07.676 --> 00:25:11.932
with the operation
of our nuclear power plant,

00:25:12.580 --> 00:25:15.414
which,
during its entire existence,

00:25:15.535 --> 00:25:20.197
has been regarded
as one of the safest in Europe.

00:25:21.369 --> 00:25:25.431
This culture of safety
surrounding our nuclear power plant

00:25:25.552 --> 00:25:28.802
is something we can
rightly be proud of.

00:25:29.463 --> 00:25:36.174
Slovenia also has extensive
experience in working in energy

00:25:36.408 --> 00:25:38.992
with a mix
of energy sources.

00:25:39.518 --> 00:25:46.060
Not based on only a single source,
but a mix of them.

00:25:46.557 --> 00:25:51.588
What Director General Grossi
said about global trends proves

00:25:51.709 --> 00:25:55.420
that the whole world
is heading in the same direction

00:25:55.541 --> 00:25:59.022
that Slovenia
set out in 50 years ago,

00:25:59.461 --> 00:26:03.563
and it is sensible
that it continues to do so.

00:26:05.237 --> 00:26:08.880
I would like to add
that every project,

00:26:09.909 --> 00:26:12.792
especially such a large one,

00:26:13.159 --> 00:26:17.409
which will have a wider impact
beyond just Slovenia,

00:26:17.530 --> 00:26:20.792
needs to be
carried out thoroughly,

00:26:21.318 --> 00:26:27.860
based on facts and,
mainly,

00:26:28.076 --> 00:26:32.295
in partnership
with the proper institutions.

00:26:32.416 --> 00:26:34.854
So, we appreciate the offer

00:26:34.975 --> 00:26:39.448
and our cooperation
with the IAEA so far.

00:26:40.093 --> 00:26:45.460
We believe that this cooperation
provides additional credibility,

00:26:45.581 --> 00:26:52.960
as well as an assurance that the
project has been set up correctly.

00:26:54.224 --> 00:26:57.760
Now I would first
like to give the floor

00:26:58.615 --> 00:27:04.349
to the Minister of the Environment,
Climate and Energy,

00:27:04.662 --> 00:27:09.115
Minister Kumer,
who will present our energy plans.

00:27:09.302 --> 00:27:13.381
And then we can open
the debate for everyone.

00:27:15.170 --> 00:27:19.052
Thank you, Prime Minister.
Greetings.

00:27:19.662 --> 00:27:22.579
Allow me to first
greet our guest,

00:27:23.006 --> 00:27:29.154
the Director General of the
International Atomic Energy Agency.

00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:37.756
Welcome to Slovenia.
We are very honoured by your visit.

00:27:38.263 --> 00:27:42.341
Colleagues, ministers,
state secretaries and other guests,

00:27:43.638 --> 00:27:47.200
the purpose
of my very short presentation

00:27:47.553 --> 00:27:52.592
is to show you the plans
that our Ministry is devising.

00:27:53.466 --> 00:27:55.146
Let me briefly say

00:27:55.267 --> 00:28:00.579
that Slovenia has done well
in the past two years

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:05.784
and made a smart move by forming
a line ministry that combined

00:28:05.912 --> 00:28:10.079
climate, sustainability,
mobility and energy policy

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:15.068
into a single department,
giving it clear responsibility

00:28:15.326 --> 00:28:21.000
to devise long-term, independent
energy-climate policy.

00:28:21.651 --> 00:28:27.011
And this is no longer
a thing that causes problems

00:28:27.132 --> 00:28:30.127
for every government's
Prime Minister,

00:28:30.248 --> 00:28:33.429
but is, in a way,
an inter-coalition problem.

00:28:33.929 --> 00:28:39.360
This way, we can devise
more ambitious policies

00:28:39.594 --> 00:28:43.289
in a more synergistic way.

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.917
Before you
is a diagram from a draft

00:28:47.038 --> 00:28:51.110
that has already undergone
public consultation and review.

00:28:51.231 --> 00:28:53.700
It is currently
still in the draft

00:28:53.821 --> 00:28:57.071
of the National
Energy and Climate Plan.

00:28:57.486 --> 00:28:59.843
The government
intends to adopt it

00:28:59.964 --> 00:29:02.811
by November
or mid-December at the latest

00:29:02.932 --> 00:29:05.734
and send it to Brussels
for approval.

00:29:06.672 --> 00:29:13.523
Here we see the retrospective
energy mix of Slovenia,

00:29:13.836 --> 00:29:16.625
of which we can be very proud.

00:29:16.937 --> 00:29:21.104
This is the so-called
'one-third mix'. In the past,

00:29:21.225 --> 00:29:26.142
Slovenia got one third of its
energy from renewable sources,

00:29:26.263 --> 00:29:30.684
followed by coal and some
natural gas, represented in grey,

00:29:31.067 --> 00:29:35.098
and the dark orange
represents nuclear power

00:29:35.497 --> 00:29:38.331
from the
Krško Nuclear Power Plant.

00:29:38.926 --> 00:29:41.593
The thinner one
of the two curves

00:29:41.958 --> 00:29:45.020
represents
final electricity consumption,

00:29:45.141 --> 00:29:49.950
while the thicker one represents
gross electricity consumption.

00:29:50.270 --> 00:29:53.937
simulated for the years
2021, 2022, and 2023,

00:29:54.058 --> 00:29:58.285
as well as projections of the mix
until the end of the year.

00:29:58.708 --> 00:30:02.504
This government has aggressively
pursued three policies,

00:30:02.625 --> 00:30:06.036
short-term, medium-term,
and long-term measures.

00:30:06.157 --> 00:30:08.883
Of course, we were
slowed down somewhat

00:30:09.004 --> 00:30:12.215
by the energy crisis
due to the war in Ukraine

00:30:12.336 --> 00:30:17.480
but we have made significant strides
in removing administrative barriers

00:30:17.601 --> 00:30:21.087
to the implementation
of renewable energy sources,

00:30:21.208 --> 00:30:23.990
focusing primarily
on solar and wind power.

00:30:24.110 --> 00:30:26.673
And, as some of you
may already know,

00:30:26.794 --> 00:30:29.595
last year
Slovenia connected to the grid

00:30:29.716 --> 00:30:32.493
as many solar power plants
and megawatts

00:30:32.614 --> 00:30:35.134
as in the previous
20 years combined.

00:30:35.255 --> 00:30:41.908
I this regard, Slovenia was,
per capita, at the top in the EU.

00:30:42.029 --> 00:30:44.382
We will continue
with this policy,

00:30:44.503 --> 00:30:47.695
as we aim to build
Slovenia’s self-sufficiency

00:30:47.816 --> 00:30:51.601
based on renewable energy sources
as soon as possible,

00:30:51.722 --> 00:30:55.296
in order to replace fossil fuels.
At the same time,

00:30:55.417 --> 00:31:00.251
we are also planning an expansion
of the nuclear programme.

00:31:00.414 --> 00:31:04.750
Slovenia can be proud
of its excellent nuclear programme,

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:07.820
which produces
oustanding energy results.

00:31:08.047 --> 00:31:12.398
Slovenia has been successfully
developing this programme for years.

00:31:12.578 --> 00:31:16.898
Before you is a schematic of all the
components of the nuclear programme,

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:20.220
from the agency
that manages nuclear waste

00:31:20.341 --> 00:31:26.115
and the fund designated
for the decommissioning

00:31:26.236 --> 00:31:28.902
of the Krško
Nuclear Power Plant,

00:31:29.023 --> 00:31:32.023
to all stakeholders
directly involved

00:31:32.144 --> 00:31:34.729
in the nuclear
programme itself.

00:31:35.874 --> 00:31:42.351
For Slovenia to have
such a good nuclear programme,

00:31:42.601 --> 00:31:46.500
we had to reach
several milestones in the past.

00:31:47.015 --> 00:31:50.253
1966,
the year we first had

00:31:50.374 --> 00:31:54.836
a research reactor
at the Jožef Stefan Institute,

00:31:55.148 --> 00:31:57.315
and 1981,
when we connected

00:31:57.929 --> 00:32:01.346
the Krško Nuclear Power Plant
to the grid.

00:32:01.672 --> 00:32:04.088
The Krško Nuclear Power Plant

00:32:04.209 --> 00:32:10.062
has operated stably, reliably,
and safely for over 40 years.

00:32:10.948 --> 00:32:15.180
Last year,
we also successfully extended

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:20.920
the power plant's life
by 20 years, to 2043.

00:32:21.112 --> 00:32:25.029
Our ambitious plan
is to further extend its life

00:32:25.222 --> 00:32:29.581
by another 10
or even 20 years.

00:32:29.964 --> 00:32:34.399
Another important milestone,
and this government's achievement,

00:32:34.520 --> 00:32:36.437
is this year's adoption

00:32:36.791 --> 00:32:42.208
of the Resolution on the Long-term
Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy.

00:32:42.329 --> 00:32:46.329
This is a political document,
a clear strategic guideline

00:32:46.501 --> 00:32:51.486
on what Slovenia's
energy future will be based on.

00:32:53.298 --> 00:32:56.215
Perhaps a few more
words and numbers

00:32:56.517 --> 00:33:03.100
about our success story, based on
the Krško Nuclear Power Plant.

00:33:04.009 --> 00:33:07.676
The current power output
has already exceeded

00:33:07.797 --> 00:33:12.212
the initial 670 megawatts
to 727 megawatts,

00:33:13.071 --> 00:33:15.220
and it has 630 employees.

00:33:16.399 --> 00:33:21.532
It is a PWR reactor,

00:33:22.226 --> 00:33:28.633
which is American,
Westinghouse technology.

00:33:28.821 --> 00:33:32.880
Another unique thing about it

00:33:33.001 --> 00:33:36.001
is that it is owned
by two countries,

00:33:36.122 --> 00:33:40.206
half by Slovenia,
half by the Republic of Croatia.

00:33:40.544 --> 00:33:44.120
Slovenia supports all efforts,

00:33:44.458 --> 00:33:49.020
both at the national
and the international level,

00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:57.320
regarding nuclear initiatives,
programmes and energy.

00:33:57.607 --> 00:34:00.273
Slovenia is an
IAEA member state,

00:34:00.402 --> 00:34:05.140
as well as a signatory
of last year's COP initiative

00:34:05.330 --> 00:34:10.408
to triple
nuclear energy capacities

00:34:10.643 --> 00:34:15.400
and an active member
of the alliance within the EU

00:34:16.736 --> 00:34:22.088
that actively participates at every
meeting of energy ministers

00:34:22.346 --> 00:34:26.513
regarding the development
of the nuclear programme.

00:34:29.322 --> 00:34:32.989
As I said earlier,
our future, like our past,

00:34:33.110 --> 00:34:39.760
is based on a mix of nuclear power
and renewable energy sources.

00:34:40.011 --> 00:34:44.737
Slovenia and Europe are
oriented toward defossilisation.

00:34:45.206 --> 00:34:49.474
We will need
to transition from coal

00:34:49.595 --> 00:34:53.345
or natural gas
as a transitional energy source

00:34:53.466 --> 00:34:56.400
to a decarbonised energy mix.

00:34:56.776 --> 00:35:01.580
We are devising short-term,
medium-term and long-term measures.

00:35:01.701 --> 00:35:04.618
The most important
long-term measure

00:35:04.739 --> 00:35:09.580
is starting up
and seriously managing the project,

00:35:09.953 --> 00:35:14.641
like the expansion
of our current nuclear capacities,

00:35:14.977 --> 00:35:19.305
by which I mean the second
reactor unit in Krško.

00:35:20.710 --> 00:35:22.976
What has been done so far?

00:35:23.172 --> 00:35:27.726
I would first like to say that we
have an important milestone ahead,

00:35:27.847 --> 00:35:32.340
on 24 November,
Slovenia will hold a referendum

00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:36.950
regarding public support
for the second reactor unit.

00:35:37.071 --> 00:35:41.442
Naturally, we are hoping for a
positive outcome of the referendum,

00:35:41.714 --> 00:35:44.798
so we can go ahead
with the strategies

00:35:44.919 --> 00:35:49.120
that have already
been devised.

00:35:49.566 --> 00:35:52.540
We adopted
a resolution this year.

00:35:53.870 --> 00:35:56.704
GEN energija,
as the current investor,

00:35:57.042 --> 00:36:00.971
is preparing an initiative
for the national spatial plan,

00:36:01.331 --> 00:36:04.665
which will mark
the official commencement

00:36:04.786 --> 00:36:08.620
of the siting process
for the nuclear facility.

00:36:10.948 --> 00:36:14.471
Regarding the timeline,
the ideal scenario

00:36:14.592 --> 00:36:18.592
is for the investor to reach
their final decision

00:36:18.713 --> 00:36:21.563
five years
after siting the facility.

00:36:21.684 --> 00:36:26.440
Of course we would like to shorten
that timeline, but we are realists.

00:36:26.561 --> 00:36:29.360
Many more analyses
and calculations will be needed

00:36:29.481 --> 00:36:32.580
for the investor to reach
their final decision.

00:36:32.946 --> 00:36:35.780
We expect
that we will then be able

00:36:35.901 --> 00:36:39.329
to acquire a building permit
within four years.

00:36:39.563 --> 00:36:44.985
The government
will have to work very proactively

00:36:45.106 --> 00:36:47.931
with all of the stakeholders

00:36:48.235 --> 00:36:52.100
to remove the obstacles
in siting the facility

00:36:52.221 --> 00:36:55.138
where we know
those obstacles exist.

00:36:55.524 --> 00:36:59.420
The construction itself
is expected to last seven years

00:36:59.665 --> 00:37:07.063
and we are planning for the unit
to operate for over 60 years.

00:37:09.899 --> 00:37:14.733
For Slovenia, the second reactor
unit is absolutely crucial

00:37:14.979 --> 00:37:19.700
and the highest priority of the
government's strategic project.

00:37:19.821 --> 00:37:24.540
It is included in all of Slovenia's
energy and strategic documents.

00:37:25.570 --> 00:37:31.273
It is also supported by the
Spatial Development Strategy.

00:37:32.186 --> 00:37:36.194
In line with the outcome
of the referendum,

00:37:36.384 --> 00:37:42.540
we will update the necessary
documents where required.

00:37:44.267 --> 00:37:46.600
That is all from me for now,

00:37:46.923 --> 00:37:51.407
but I will of course be here
to answer any questions. Thank you.

00:37:51.829 --> 00:37:53.509
Thank you, Minister.

00:37:55.149 --> 00:37:57.760
I see no one
has asked for the floor.

00:37:59.704 --> 00:38:03.280
Yes, go ahead.
Pfeifer.

00:38:04.181 --> 00:38:07.181
Gorazd Pfeifer,
Chairman of the Board

00:38:07.302 --> 00:38:09.969
of the Krško
Nuclear Power Plant.

00:38:10.509 --> 00:38:17.440
Greetings, Director General
and Prime Minister.

00:38:18.278 --> 00:38:23.147
I will continue from where
the two of you started.

00:38:23.268 --> 00:38:27.580
I was just at the
WANO General Meeting,

00:38:27.785 --> 00:38:32.934
where the Director General
of the IAEA also gave a speech.

00:38:33.856 --> 00:38:38.700
I would like to emphasise
the importance

00:38:38.942 --> 00:38:43.840
of cooperating with
international organisations

00:38:44.051 --> 00:38:47.206
like the IAEA,
WANO

00:38:47.327 --> 00:38:55.129
and other such
agencies and institutions.

00:38:55.987 --> 00:39:01.360
Slovenia is known
for actively engaging

00:39:02.572 --> 00:39:07.064
and participating
in these organisations.

00:39:07.185 --> 00:39:10.410
I can speak for
the Krško Nuclear Power Plant,

00:39:10.531 --> 00:39:13.615
which is a very active
member of WANO.

00:39:14.098 --> 00:39:19.800
WANO's findings
from last week show

00:39:20.814 --> 00:39:27.785
that the nuclear industry
is expanding worldwide.

00:39:28.893 --> 00:39:34.707
We play a significant role
in preparing the new world,

00:39:34.828 --> 00:39:36.508
the new countries,

00:39:36.629 --> 00:39:41.963
the newcomers who are introducing
new units and new technologies,

00:39:42.170 --> 00:39:45.576
not only for the
regulatory foundations

00:39:45.697 --> 00:39:48.781
but also for
operational fundamentals.

00:39:49.174 --> 00:39:53.000
In other words,
we have an important task

00:39:53.221 --> 00:39:56.054
in preparing
these new power plants

00:39:56.175 --> 00:40:01.718
and new electricity producers
using nuclear energy

00:40:02.530 --> 00:40:06.960
for what it means
to operate such facilities.

00:40:08.715 --> 00:40:15.080
We have
a good 40-year history,

00:40:15.333 --> 00:40:21.398
we are responsible
and respected

00:40:21.518 --> 00:40:25.707
in these organizations
and the whole nuclear program

00:40:25.827 --> 00:40:28.457
you mentioned
is so widespread

00:40:28.577 --> 00:40:32.973
that we are seen
as competent negotiators

00:40:33.093 --> 00:40:38.660
and contractors
in the whole world.

00:40:40.046 --> 00:40:43.752
Therefore, I think

00:40:43.872 --> 00:40:47.540
that we have to use it.
Not everyone has it.

00:40:49.417 --> 00:40:53.994
A lot of them are beginners
regarding this technology

00:40:55.277 --> 00:41:01.662
and I think we should follow
these guidelines.

00:41:01.782 --> 00:41:04.640
Thank you.
-Thank you.

00:41:08.943 --> 00:41:13.091
Go ahead, Mr. Paravan.
-Hello.

00:41:13.211 --> 00:41:16.300
Dr. Dejan Paravan,
CEO of Gen energija.

00:41:17.458 --> 00:41:23.883
I also want to stress the safety
and performance experience

00:41:24.190 --> 00:41:29.138
we have with nuclear energy
in Slovenia.

00:41:29.258 --> 00:41:33.480
This is the advantage
we have to build on.

00:41:34.075 --> 00:41:37.400
It is especially important
if we want

00:41:37.988 --> 00:41:42.180
to develop our country
in the right direction

00:41:43.394 --> 00:41:45.847
regarding decarbonization

00:41:45.967 --> 00:41:50.720
and our energy independence.

00:41:51.121 --> 00:41:57.100
We cannot forget Slovenia
is importing all fossil fuels

00:41:57.220 --> 00:42:01.773
and we do not have a refinery.
We are importing natural gas

00:42:01.893 --> 00:42:08.523
and we do not have a storage for it.
When producing electricity,

00:42:08.643 --> 00:42:12.320
we are geographically limited

00:42:12.494 --> 00:42:18.826
and this is why the combination of
renewable sources and nuclear energy

00:42:18.946 --> 00:42:24.538
can bring at least
some energy security

00:42:24.829 --> 00:42:30.420
to our citizens and industry.
We are also preparing

00:42:30.712 --> 00:42:33.780
a new project.
As it has already been said,

00:42:33.977 --> 00:42:39.263
we are expecting the final
investor's decision in 2028.

00:42:39.383 --> 00:42:44.380
This will be important. Until then,
we have to do a lot of work.

00:42:45.015 --> 00:42:50.416
In preparing for this project,
we have to consider the experience

00:42:50.536 --> 00:42:54.031
which is the consequence
of the fact that in the past years,

00:42:54.152 --> 00:42:59.768
we have been focusing
too little on nuclear energy.

00:42:59.888 --> 00:43:03.460
Luckily,
this has turned around.

00:43:04.369 --> 00:43:08.640
There are certain risks
when building a plant

00:43:08.760 --> 00:43:14.778
which is why we have problems
finding financial sources for it.

00:43:14.898 --> 00:43:20.020
I want to ask how the IAEA

00:43:20.437 --> 00:43:25.768
is helping with these challenges,
how can it help Slovenia

00:43:25.888 --> 00:43:31.040
which is a small country
and the project

00:43:31.394 --> 00:43:35.580
will affect a broader region
and will be important for it.

00:43:35.700 --> 00:43:41.405
A lot of countries around Slovenia
are not counting on nuclear energy

00:43:41.525 --> 00:43:47.850
and therefore,
such a plant in our system

00:43:47.970 --> 00:43:52.253
is worth so much more.
The second question

00:43:52.373 --> 00:43:54.980
is regarding
new technologies.

00:43:55.678 --> 00:44:01.959
SMRs are definitely
a very important opportunity

00:44:02.079 --> 00:44:06.856
for the future.
They are solving the problems

00:44:06.976 --> 00:44:13.295
I was talking about before,
but they have a long way to go,

00:44:13.415 --> 00:44:19.010
as you said yourself.
This is one of the biggest obstacles

00:44:19.325 --> 00:44:24.460
with spreading of SMRs.
It is connected with licences

00:44:24.580 --> 00:44:28.340
where your agency can make
important steps forward.

00:44:29.022 --> 00:44:33.780
If we want to ensure plants
are economically efficient,

00:44:33.969 --> 00:44:38.673
we have to standardize

00:44:38.794 --> 00:44:41.851
licensing globally,

00:44:41.971 --> 00:44:45.682
not just in a certain country.
I want to know

00:44:45.802 --> 00:44:47.552
how you see this,

00:44:47.673 --> 00:44:53.180
how real is the possibility

00:44:53.441 --> 00:44:59.340
to reach
a standardized licensing of SMRs.

00:45:04.325 --> 00:45:06.340
Do I answer right away?
-Go on.

00:45:09.757 --> 00:45:14.086
Thank you for your comments
and questions.

00:45:14.206 --> 00:45:16.206
They are important questions.

00:45:18.771 --> 00:45:23.260
The first part
of the question

00:45:23.888 --> 00:45:28.500
is about the possibilities
and problems

00:45:29.174 --> 00:45:32.360
countries are facing

00:45:33.573 --> 00:45:39.482
with financing
and other aspects as well.

00:45:39.812 --> 00:45:44.700
We often see it
as Achilles's heel

00:45:47.241 --> 00:45:51.960
when building
new nuclear facilities.

00:45:53.611 --> 00:45:55.280
To some extent,

00:45:57.517 --> 00:46:01.366
governments are competent
regarding nuclear energy,

00:46:01.486 --> 00:46:07.050
but the IAEA can help.
We have started dialogues

00:46:07.170 --> 00:46:13.760
we have not had before. We are
talking to financial institutions.

00:46:14.356 --> 00:46:15.956
In the past,

00:46:18.800 --> 00:46:23.630
there were
certain restrictions

00:46:23.750 --> 00:46:26.528
in international
financial institutions

00:46:26.648 --> 00:46:30.200
when financing
nuclear technology.

00:46:31.468 --> 00:46:33.720
We can start
with the World Bank.

00:46:35.355 --> 00:46:40.670
I met with Mr. Ajay Banga

00:46:40.790 --> 00:46:44.289
who was a businessman himself

00:46:44.409 --> 00:46:49.120
and is questioning
these restrictions.

00:46:50.951 --> 00:46:55.395
This happened
because of ideology

00:46:55.515 --> 00:46:59.279
and other things, but now we
are cooperating with the World Bank

00:46:59.399 --> 00:47:02.040
and other institutions.

00:47:02.597 --> 00:47:06.444
The world cannot go
in one direction,

00:47:06.564 --> 00:47:11.400
but at the same time, banks
that should support the countries,

00:47:11.809 --> 00:47:15.200
do not follow that.
This is unimaginable.

00:47:15.593 --> 00:47:18.859
The countries said
they wanted

00:47:18.979 --> 00:47:22.878
and have to accelerate the
development of nuclear technology

00:47:22.998 --> 00:47:26.107
together with renewable sources,

00:47:26.227 --> 00:47:31.440
but they cannot finance
these projects alone.

00:47:32.669 --> 00:47:35.720
With the taxonomy
accepted in Europe,

00:47:38.035 --> 00:47:40.880
we have avoided the worst.

00:47:42.593 --> 00:47:46.073
We need
country-specific solutions

00:47:46.193 --> 00:47:49.537
and they have to be passed
by governments.

00:47:49.657 --> 00:47:52.925
The IAEA can help with this.

00:47:53.045 --> 00:47:56.898
We have all the information

00:47:57.018 --> 00:47:59.154
about what is going on

00:47:59.275 --> 00:48:05.600
and how the countries
are dealing with all these aspects,

00:48:06.618 --> 00:48:11.139
tariffs,
price adjustment mechanisms,

00:48:11.259 --> 00:48:17.131
green bonds, how they
are using different instruments

00:48:17.251 --> 00:48:21.700
that will be available
to you as well

00:48:24.757 --> 00:48:30.691
to carry out projects such as
the second nuclear power plant.

00:48:30.811 --> 00:48:34.740
The IAEA is ready to help.

00:48:35.586 --> 00:48:40.726
In the neighbourhood,
I will not mention any names,

00:48:40.846 --> 00:48:44.906
they are asking
us how to do this.

00:48:45.026 --> 00:48:50.360
This does not mean they will listen,
but they are asking.

00:48:52.807 --> 00:48:58.060
With the second question,
you really hit the nail on the head.

00:48:59.008 --> 00:49:04.500
You mentioned SMRs

00:49:05.183 --> 00:49:08.224
and issuing permits for them.

00:49:08.344 --> 00:49:14.620
Before I became
the CEO of the Agency,

00:49:15.161 --> 00:49:19.948
I had worked very closely
with the industry,

00:49:20.068 --> 00:49:23.400
with the public
and private sector.

00:49:24.285 --> 00:49:31.105
In the past,
the IAEA was more limited,

00:49:31.225 --> 00:49:36.520
but I decided
to talk to the sector.

00:49:37.171 --> 00:49:42.395
When I met
with the CEOs of companies

00:49:42.515 --> 00:49:45.420
within the nuclear industry,

00:49:47.218 --> 00:49:52.360
we were talking
about the permits as well.

00:49:54.276 --> 00:49:58.991
The current system
of issuing permits for SMRs

00:49:59.111 --> 00:50:04.788
is not adequate.
It is not acceptable

00:50:04.908 --> 00:50:09.220
for the process
to take five, six years.

00:50:09.457 --> 00:50:12.293
SMRs are not a revolution,

00:50:12.414 --> 00:50:16.760
they are an evolution.

00:50:19.137 --> 00:50:24.621
SMRs are a technology where you
can turn to different providers

00:50:24.741 --> 00:50:31.140
and buy a module with a capacity,
let's say 10 MW,

00:50:31.588 --> 00:50:34.772
depending on your needs.
This means

00:50:34.892 --> 00:50:41.860
you need a leverage effect
and financing.

00:50:42.831 --> 00:50:45.995
SMRs are based
on new technology,

00:50:46.115 --> 00:50:48.560
but they depend
on the politics as well.

00:50:51.198 --> 00:50:56.099
Slovenia is cooperating
in the NHSI project,

00:50:56.220 --> 00:50:59.194
Nuclear Harmonization

00:50:59.314 --> 00:51:04.300
and Standardization
Initiative.

00:51:05.568 --> 00:51:12.360
When we started the initiative,
we invited a lot of parties.

00:51:12.824 --> 00:51:17.189
In Europe,
you have regulators, agencies

00:51:17.309 --> 00:51:20.639
and they have them
in America as well.

00:51:20.759 --> 00:51:24.452
They are convincing each other
which is good.

00:51:24.572 --> 00:51:29.320
In politics, you always
have to talk to the other side,

00:51:29.572 --> 00:51:35.360
but here,
they have not been doing it.

00:51:37.315 --> 00:51:42.899
WANO and other international
nuclear organizations

00:51:43.019 --> 00:51:48.513
have not been talking to each other.
They wanted to be independent.

00:51:48.633 --> 00:51:53.020
The concept is very simple.
We have to connect people.

00:51:53.374 --> 00:51:57.700
This is the concept
of the NHSI.

00:51:58.203 --> 00:52:03.897
Some regulators say,
and I do not blame them,

00:52:04.017 --> 00:52:08.366
they are responsible.

00:52:08.486 --> 00:52:13.783
This is the state's competence.
We decide on the conditions

00:52:13.903 --> 00:52:19.325
for things that are
as technologically delicate

00:52:19.445 --> 00:52:21.820
as nuclear energy.

00:52:22.494 --> 00:52:27.739
I think this is
a smart approach,

00:52:29.624 --> 00:52:35.220
but the span coming from it,

00:52:36.160 --> 00:52:41.020
connected with it, is huge.

00:52:41.960 --> 00:52:47.105
We are talking
about issuing permits.

00:52:47.225 --> 00:52:52.700
The American regulator
for issuing permits

00:52:55.398 --> 00:52:59.598
has a significant role and when we
are talking about the span,

00:52:59.718 --> 00:53:04.660
we can do a lot.
NuScale has a model

00:53:05.514 --> 00:53:09.132
that has already
been licensed

00:53:09.252 --> 00:53:12.760
and has a permit.
If we look at Slovenia

00:53:12.880 --> 00:53:16.980
or Ghana, for example.
Let's forget about Slovenia.

00:53:17.100 --> 00:53:21.475
Take a look at some other country.
Any regulator

00:53:21.595 --> 00:53:25.064
can learn
from American regulators

00:53:25.184 --> 00:53:28.267
and accelerate the process

00:53:28.387 --> 00:53:33.880
three or four times.
This is what the NHSI is about.

00:53:34.117 --> 00:53:37.820
Do not be afraid
to discuss this,

00:53:38.049 --> 00:53:43.060
cooperate with the sector,
connect it with the regulator.

00:53:43.180 --> 00:53:47.380
With the help from the IAEA,
we can see

00:53:47.500 --> 00:53:54.186
how far we can go.
Our first priority is safety,

00:53:55.485 --> 00:53:57.200
but safety

00:53:59.835 --> 00:54:03.800
cannot be the only factor.

00:54:05.053 --> 00:54:10.037
Safety is the prerequisite
and not a factor.

00:54:10.336 --> 00:54:13.884
Our will to do something
is the factor,

00:54:14.004 --> 00:54:19.440
but we have to consider safety
requirements when doing it.

00:54:19.880 --> 00:54:25.695
We have been talking to regulators
all over the world. We are friends.

00:54:25.815 --> 00:54:28.420
I can openly talk to them.

00:54:29.508 --> 00:54:34.200
In the past,
everything was problematic.

00:54:34.320 --> 00:54:37.800
As you know, we can see

00:54:39.483 --> 00:54:43.907
risks and dangers
everywhere in life.

00:54:44.027 --> 00:54:48.055
We can fall down the stairs,
a bottle can fall on our head.

00:54:48.175 --> 00:54:53.520
There are risks everywhere.
I realised

00:54:53.640 --> 00:54:58.105
we are not ambitious enough.
This is what we need,

00:54:58.226 --> 00:55:05.188
but we need
a strict regulatory supervision.

00:55:05.308 --> 00:55:08.144
It is important how we regulate
new nuclear energy.

00:55:08.264 --> 00:55:12.420
It cannot be freely available
and free for everyone,

00:55:13.414 --> 00:55:19.076
but in the 21st century,
we have to adapt the rules.

00:55:19.196 --> 00:55:25.013
We cannot work
in the same way

00:55:25.133 --> 00:55:28.160
as we did
in the previous century.

00:55:28.873 --> 00:55:35.766
Is any area still regulated
in the same way as in 1970?

00:55:35.886 --> 00:55:37.486
Nuclear energy.

00:55:39.493 --> 00:55:43.960
We decided to start
different processes.

00:55:45.243 --> 00:55:50.579
The next NHSI meeting
is taking place in three weeks.

00:55:50.699 --> 00:55:56.700
We are making progress,
countries are more relaxed,

00:55:56.820 --> 00:56:00.780
the regulators have been talking
and exchanging opinions.

00:56:00.900 --> 00:56:06.540
They are ready
to move forward faster.

00:56:06.987 --> 00:56:10.980
Thank you.
Mr. Sirc, go ahead.

00:56:21.007 --> 00:56:26.660
Sorry. Igor Sirc,
Nuclear Safety Administration.

00:56:27.420 --> 00:56:29.053
I want to stress

00:56:31.634 --> 00:56:36.080
a great relationship
Slovenia has with the IAEA

00:56:36.598 --> 00:56:39.980
in the nuclear safety area.

00:56:40.576 --> 00:56:46.142
Nuclear safety is
the necessary prerequisite,

00:56:46.262 --> 00:56:51.181
but it is not self-evident.
It is one of the pillars

00:56:51.301 --> 00:56:55.240
on which the IAEA works.

00:56:56.461 --> 00:57:00.801
I want to thank
Director Grossi

00:57:00.921 --> 00:57:07.644
for understanding
the IAEA role and importance

00:57:07.764 --> 00:57:12.822
as an international organization
when providing

00:57:14.074 --> 00:57:18.493
the necessary basis

00:57:18.613 --> 00:57:22.260
to ensure a high level
of nuclear safety.

00:57:23.043 --> 00:57:27.368
I want to stress
the Agency's role

00:57:27.488 --> 00:57:34.180
in building the competences
in this area.

00:57:34.816 --> 00:57:38.963
Slovenia has been actively
cooperating with the Agency.

00:57:39.419 --> 00:57:43.160
On one hand, our experts

00:57:43.624 --> 00:57:47.020
have been training in programs
the Agency is offering

00:57:47.624 --> 00:57:53.020
and on the other hand,
we also share our knowledge

00:57:53.225 --> 00:57:55.540
which is very important.

00:57:56.074 --> 00:58:01.180
Our comparative advantage has been
mentioned a couple of times.

00:58:01.706 --> 00:58:07.744
We have a lot of knowledge,
but we realise

00:58:07.864 --> 00:58:13.405
we have to educate
ourselves further as well

00:58:13.525 --> 00:58:19.720
and here, the Agency plays a role
as an international organization.

00:58:21.418 --> 00:58:25.980
The other important aspect
are international standards.

00:58:27.373 --> 00:58:30.700
Here,
I want to mention the NHSI.

00:58:31.710 --> 00:58:37.328
I was very much in favour
of this initiative and still am.

00:58:37.448 --> 00:58:43.211
It is a great initiative
that goes in the right direction

00:58:44.307 --> 00:58:47.260
of unifying standards.

00:58:47.544 --> 00:58:52.561
The IAEA standards
are an important source

00:58:52.681 --> 00:58:56.780
for our legislation as well.

00:58:59.079 --> 00:59:03.730
I want to stress
the IAEA role

00:59:03.850 --> 00:59:08.473
to unify the standards

00:59:08.593 --> 00:59:12.762
and raise the security level
throughout the world.

00:59:12.883 --> 00:59:17.720
I want to thank
you for realising

00:59:17.887 --> 00:59:20.918
this is the right moment,
for acting swiftly

00:59:21.038 --> 00:59:24.444
and in my opinion, this is going
in the right direction.

00:59:24.915 --> 00:59:29.542
I ask you to continue
with this process.

00:59:29.662 --> 00:59:35.094
There are a lot of open questions
regarding new technologies

00:59:35.214 --> 00:59:39.352
on all three S's, safety.
security, safeguards,

00:59:39.674 --> 00:59:45.760
and any effort on unifying
standards is more than welcome.

00:59:46.481 --> 00:59:51.400
The Agency is also the knowledge
management protector

00:59:51.723 --> 00:59:54.644
and the hub for exchanging
experience and knowledge.

00:59:54.764 --> 01:00:00.609
I already said Slovenia has been
actively participating in this.

01:00:02.043 --> 01:00:06.890
Here, I would mention
international missions,

01:00:07.110 --> 01:00:09.340
which are
services of the agency.

01:00:09.917 --> 01:00:13.390
Minister Kumer
has mentioned the service INIR.

01:00:13.623 --> 01:00:19.623
Maybe,
it would interest also you CORR.

01:00:19.737 --> 01:00:21.677
Construction Readiness
Review service.

01:00:21.863 --> 01:00:27.057
Certain services will be
interesting for Slovenia too.

01:00:27.343 --> 01:00:34.143
And our experts are also cooperating
at other services around the world.

01:00:34.363 --> 01:00:39.523
I would like to thank you.
I count on future cooperation

01:00:39.683 --> 01:00:42.350
between international agency
and Slovenia in the field

01:00:42.483 --> 01:00:46.630
of ensuring the highest
nuclear safety. Thank you.

01:00:48.717 --> 01:00:53.343
Thank you. If nobody
in the first row wants to...

01:00:53.620 --> 01:00:56.510
Then we will cross over
to the second row.

01:00:57.620 --> 01:01:00.063
We will return
to the first row later.

01:01:01.290 --> 01:01:03.190
First, Mr. Plut.

01:01:08.563 --> 01:01:12.410
Dear all,
thank you for inviting me.

01:01:13.243 --> 01:01:16.950
I find it great

01:01:17.283 --> 01:01:23.523
that we talk about such an important
topic as is the energy future

01:01:23.683 --> 01:01:29.230
of the world, Europe
and Slovenia in a way

01:01:29.363 --> 01:01:31.603
that other opinions
can be heard

01:01:31.777 --> 01:01:35.037
regarding the nuclear energy.

01:01:35.877 --> 01:01:40.110
First, I would like to repeat,
what I have already said

01:01:40.330 --> 01:01:43.737
on the Commission's meeting
in the National Assembly.

01:01:44.397 --> 01:01:50.403
I am really and sincerely thankful
to all people,

01:01:50.630 --> 01:01:56.217
who have been ensuring that the Krško
nuclear power plant is safe.

01:01:56.897 --> 01:02:02.723
This goes for the whole team,
long-time director of the power plant

01:02:02.917 --> 01:02:06.930
Mr. Stane Rožman
and Agency for Nuclear Safety.

01:02:07.083 --> 01:02:13.583
I think everybody is happy, even
those of us against nuclear power,

01:02:13.857 --> 01:02:17.030
that the Krško nuclear power plant
is working safely.

01:02:17.183 --> 01:02:20.183
We want this
in the future as well.

01:02:21.223 --> 01:02:28.843
My reflections regarding the safety
of the nuclear power is different.

01:02:30.083 --> 01:02:34.110
From the middle of the 1980s,

01:02:34.290 --> 01:02:37.683
when the accident
in Chernobyl happened,

01:02:38.243 --> 01:02:43.430
I oppose the nuclear power use,

01:02:43.823 --> 01:02:50.697
mainly because of peaceful
and military atom bonding.

01:02:51.510 --> 01:02:55.557
Until the world has
nuclear reactors,

01:02:56.270 --> 01:03:00.443
there will be production

01:03:01.570 --> 01:03:06.690
and waste
or spent nuclear fuel,

01:03:06.830 --> 01:03:11.890
which is a raw material
for making of nuclear weapons.

01:03:12.610 --> 01:03:15.917
In the world we are living in,

01:03:16.317 --> 01:03:22.637
we can't think about nuclear safety
only from the microlocal view,

01:03:22.890 --> 01:03:30.350
but from the view of ensuring safety
for everybody on this planet.

01:03:30.970 --> 01:03:35.283
Second thing,
the nuclear energy use

01:03:35.457 --> 01:03:40.623
and use of all other
sources of energy

01:03:40.830 --> 01:03:46.523
has undeniably
negative effects on the environment.

01:03:47.250 --> 01:03:51.190
I repeat, even the use
of renewable energy sources

01:03:51.283 --> 01:03:53.803
has negative effects.

01:03:54.943 --> 01:03:58.023
In the world,

01:03:58.743 --> 01:04:03.023
where we are surpassing the tonnage
of the planet by a double,

01:04:03.130 --> 01:04:06.590
as far as energy use, raw materials
and space are considered,

01:04:06.770 --> 01:04:12.610
we should ask ourselves first,
even here today,

01:04:12.817 --> 01:04:19.750
whether we can afford
to spend energy even further.

01:04:20.177 --> 01:04:26.237
The first task of the state,
citizens, companies and everybody

01:04:26.497 --> 01:04:31.523
should be, what we can do
to reduce the energy use.

01:04:31.810 --> 01:04:35.357
To say it differently,
we should talk today mainly

01:04:35.516 --> 01:04:43.450
about megawatts and not about
even bigger production of energy.

01:04:44.457 --> 01:04:47.450
I believe this is very important.

01:04:48.377 --> 01:04:51.137
But it demands big changes.

01:04:51.797 --> 01:04:54.550
Changes in our life styles

01:04:54.777 --> 01:04:58.610
and this civilizations
has come across

01:04:58.777 --> 01:05:02.503
the planetary environmental
restrictions for the first time.

01:05:02.677 --> 01:05:06.563
But it doesn't comply with them.
I am appalled.

01:05:07.057 --> 01:05:11.070
Because I'm worried about the fate
of my children, grandchildren

01:05:11.183 --> 01:05:12.863
and of next generations.

01:05:13.037 --> 01:05:16.663
Can we set our development
so egoistically

01:05:16.863 --> 01:05:22.157
that we are destroying the conditions
of existence for next generations.

01:05:22.477 --> 01:05:26.710
This is an important question.
I know these words sound illusory,

01:05:26.903 --> 01:05:29.690
but you will see it

01:05:30.023 --> 01:05:37.170
at the end of our generation
and the first half of 21st century,

01:05:37.403 --> 01:05:42.237
we will leave a toxic
and risky planet for our posterity.

01:05:42.703 --> 01:05:46.243
On the account of excessively
increasing the profit

01:05:46.363 --> 01:05:51.330
and on the account of increasing
the assets of individuals.

01:05:52.010 --> 01:05:55.190
I will end with this,
because I'm getting frustrated

01:05:55.310 --> 01:05:58.083
and I hope
you will forgive me for this.

01:05:58.990 --> 01:06:02.510
Please, we are about to vote.

01:06:03.823 --> 01:06:08.017
What would I want
as a citizen of this state

01:06:08.223 --> 01:06:15.110
that I personally worked for its
independence? What do I wish?

01:06:15.517 --> 01:06:18.670
I would want mainly this

01:06:18.863 --> 01:06:24.730
that before polling,
Slovenian citizens

01:06:25.977 --> 01:06:29.957
get acquainted
with both possibilities

01:06:30.163 --> 01:06:33.190
in a balanced
and equal way.

01:06:33.850 --> 01:06:39.583
With nuclear energy future
and non-nuclear energy future.

01:06:40.030 --> 01:06:44.210
Present debate is distinctly...

01:06:44.357 --> 01:06:50.797
As well as support of the media
and finances is distinctly unequal.

01:06:52.563 --> 01:06:59.277
Money went mainly for supporting
the projects for nuclear energy.

01:07:01.017 --> 01:07:06.790
I think that the state and government
should support also those

01:07:06.990 --> 01:07:11.250
who are advocating
another path.

01:07:11.397 --> 01:07:16.050
Why? The citizens
should have a possibility

01:07:16.270 --> 01:07:18.863
of responsible
decision-making.

01:07:19.217 --> 01:07:25.457
This can't be provided
in one month.

01:07:25.783 --> 01:07:30.750
I appeal to all Parties,
to the Slovenian government

01:07:30.910 --> 01:07:35.337
to postpone the polling
for half a year or one year ahead,

01:07:35.443 --> 01:07:37.950
so we can have this discussion.

01:07:38.123 --> 01:07:41.057
The decision is important
for the whole civilization.

01:07:41.210 --> 01:07:45.210
It's not just a question
of nuclear energy

01:07:45.463 --> 01:07:50.883
and I think that the citizens
absolutely deserve this.

01:07:51.037 --> 01:07:52.957
One last thing.

01:07:53.130 --> 01:07:55.757
A question
for the Prime Minister.

01:07:57.143 --> 01:08:00.843
He supports
solar energy as well.

01:08:01.103 --> 01:08:06.297
I read his articles
and have quoted him in my works,

01:08:06.483 --> 01:08:08.523
because I find it important.

01:08:08.703 --> 01:08:11.800
Nevertheless,
I would like to ask him.

01:08:12.030 --> 01:08:17.170
How do you figure
that Slovenia would fulfil

01:08:17.350 --> 01:08:22.550
international
and European commitment

01:08:22.783 --> 01:08:29.017
about the reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions for 55%

01:08:29.177 --> 01:08:32.137
until the year of 2030.

01:08:32.903 --> 01:08:39.197
If there is a nuclear plant 2,

01:08:40.417 --> 01:08:47.870
built in best case scenario,
as you have written and said,

01:08:48.337 --> 01:08:53.790
after the year of 2040,
if the trend doesn't change a lot,

01:08:53.903 --> 01:08:59.257
as we've seen today.
So, I believe,

01:08:59.603 --> 01:09:06.837
that the Krško nuclear power plant
doesn't serve the purpose

01:09:07.177 --> 01:09:10.857
of fast decarbonisation
of Slovenia,

01:09:10.997 --> 01:09:14.430
because it will be build too late.

01:09:16.843 --> 01:09:18.443
All right.

01:09:18.577 --> 01:09:24.490
Yes, Štokelj. -Hello president of the
International Atomic Energy Agency,

01:09:24.670 --> 01:09:26.563
Mr. Prime Minister
and everybody in here.

01:09:26.710 --> 01:09:30.777
I am Tomaž Štokelj, the director
of Holding Slovenske elektrarne.

01:09:31.637 --> 01:09:34.397
First, a word about energy use.

01:09:34.563 --> 01:09:39.110
I agree that we have to reduce
the energy use,

01:09:39.263 --> 01:09:42.930
but we have to know that
electrical energy is the most noble

01:09:43.083 --> 01:09:46.723
and its use will increase.
There will be a decrease in use

01:09:46.890 --> 01:09:49.703
of petroleum, gas and coal.

01:09:49.903 --> 01:09:54.837
We expect an increase in electrical
energy use and we need new sources.

01:09:56.070 --> 01:10:01.703
We support the development
and use of the nuclear energy.

01:10:01.877 --> 01:10:05.923
We won't be developing
a new nuclear plant,

01:10:06.050 --> 01:10:09.217
maybe we will cooperate
with it later,

01:10:09.370 --> 01:10:12.270
but we are concentrating
on SMRs.

01:10:13.570 --> 01:10:16.100
With the Ministry
and GEN energija

01:10:16.260 --> 01:10:18.223
we are cooperating
in the project Phoenix,

01:10:18.430 --> 01:10:23.123
where we are searching options
to use the existing energy locations,

01:10:23.270 --> 01:10:28.170
where the coal plants
were already or will be shut down.

01:10:28.443 --> 01:10:31.150
How can we use
these locations for SMRs.

01:10:31.797 --> 01:10:38.097
There are quite a few questions here
and I ask Mr. Grossi for his view.

01:10:38.237 --> 01:10:40.103
I know this is unsavoury,

01:10:40.357 --> 01:10:45.003
but on one hand,
we have a problem with licences,

01:10:45.323 --> 01:10:51.283
on the other hand the locals find
it hard to accept new technologies.

01:10:51.917 --> 01:10:56.783
We are talking about placing
this facilities in urban areas,

01:10:56.937 --> 01:11:00.757
near the settlements,
where we have certain restrictions.

01:11:01.297 --> 01:11:06.290
Mr. Grossi, when will the technology
be developed enough,

01:11:06.450 --> 01:11:10.463
tested and accepted
by the citizens

01:11:10.670 --> 01:11:15.503
that we can count in Slovenia
to have the first SMRs?

01:11:15.770 --> 01:11:20.137
You have the most information
and are probably the most objective.

01:11:20.390 --> 01:11:22.077
Thank you.

01:11:22.877 --> 01:11:26.497
Thank you. Before the answers,
we can talk some more.

01:11:26.617 --> 01:11:28.650
First, Kus, then Gabrič.

01:11:28.803 --> 01:11:30.563
Thank you very much.

01:11:31.130 --> 01:11:34.270
Zoran Kus,
general public.

01:11:34.637 --> 01:11:39.850
First, Dr. Grossi, thank you
for your interesting lecture.

01:11:41.617 --> 01:11:44.583
Dear Prime Minister
and Assembly,

01:11:44.837 --> 01:11:47.677
I would like to ask something
Dr. Grossi,

01:11:47.810 --> 01:11:51.830
but I need
a little background first.

01:11:52.030 --> 01:11:59.063
You mentioned that last year
at the climate summit in Dubai

01:11:59.737 --> 01:12:03.577
22 states adopted a commitment

01:12:03.763 --> 01:12:10.817
about triple increase
in nuclear energy capacity till 2050.

01:12:11.450 --> 01:12:18.197
This number is very high.
I will mention just a few numbers.

01:12:18.957 --> 01:12:23.057
22 states that have
signed this commitment

01:12:23.277 --> 01:12:28.883
have approximately 270 gigawatts
of nuclear capacity,

01:12:29.043 --> 01:12:31.603
which means 270 reactors.

01:12:32.130 --> 01:12:34.923
If we want to triple this number,

01:12:35.103 --> 01:12:38.903
we would need to have
a capacity around 800 gigawatts.

01:12:39.130 --> 01:12:42.883
This is additional 540 reactors.

01:12:43.397 --> 01:12:46.683
If we take into consideration

01:12:46.910 --> 01:12:51.910
that in 25 years
some of the reactors were shut down,

01:12:52.077 --> 01:12:58.030
they should be stopped
because of age and other reasons,

01:12:58.183 --> 01:13:03.937
this is additional 100 reactors.

01:13:04.130 --> 01:13:08.623
This means that until 2050
these 22 states should build

01:13:08.717 --> 01:13:14.683
new capacities
for 650 nuclear reactors.

01:13:15.023 --> 01:13:19.903
In 25 years,
this is 26 reactors per year.

01:13:20.130 --> 01:13:24.537
One more thing.
In the past 25 years,

01:13:24.783 --> 01:13:31.747
these 22 states built
only 12 new nuclear reactors.

01:13:31.940 --> 01:13:36.237
And around 55 reactors
were shut down.

01:13:36.410 --> 01:13:38.337
My question for Dr. Grossi.

01:13:38.517 --> 01:13:44.903
Do you think the number 26 reactors
per year until 2050 is realistic?

01:13:45.103 --> 01:13:50.063
If yes, how? And if not,
which number is realistic?

01:13:50.263 --> 01:13:55.410
The history shows that in the last
25 years we had a negative balance

01:13:55.590 --> 01:13:58.903
in these 22 states.
Minus two reactors.

01:13:59.050 --> 01:14:00.937
Thank you for your answer.

01:14:02.197 --> 01:14:04.243
Thank you. All right.

01:14:04.583 --> 01:14:06.440
Please.

01:14:07.337 --> 01:14:10.983
Easy questions.

01:14:14.010 --> 01:14:17.017
First, what Mr. Štukelj said,

01:14:17.290 --> 01:14:21.577
after that I will address the numbers
you have mentioned now.

01:14:24.570 --> 01:14:28.930
Very important fields.
Regarding the SMRs

01:14:29.097 --> 01:14:33.763
or small modular reactors,
the technology development

01:14:33.983 --> 01:14:41.450
and as you've said, the acceptance
of them by the general public.

01:14:41.917 --> 01:14:47.937
As far as the maturity
of the technology is concerned,

01:14:48.523 --> 01:14:53.850
I believe we have reached it.
Our problem is licensing,

01:14:54.363 --> 01:14:57.977
the acquisition of licenses,
which is very important.

01:14:58.230 --> 01:15:05.530
We made some important steps
and the biggest controller NRC

01:15:05.843 --> 01:15:10.783
has already given the permits
for certain models.

01:15:10.890 --> 01:15:12.803
This is very important.

01:15:13.177 --> 01:15:17.983
They gave them green light,
which shows that this path

01:15:19.857 --> 01:15:24.883
is possible and achievable.
I'm not worried about that.

01:15:25.003 --> 01:15:28.917
As far as local population
is concerned,

01:15:30.610 --> 01:15:36.277
I would now look at the process,
we are working on at the agency

01:15:36.443 --> 01:15:40.610
and I believe that in Slovenia

01:15:42.330 --> 01:15:44.737
we can share this experience.

01:15:46.943 --> 01:15:51.137
We are trying
to establish the alliance

01:15:51.423 --> 01:15:54.283
of the nuclear municipalities
in the world.

01:15:54.450 --> 01:16:00.923
Namely, local communities
that have nuclear power plants

01:16:01.110 --> 01:16:06.037
and for a long time, nevertheless.
For many generations.

01:16:06.490 --> 01:16:08.930
These are people

01:16:10.223 --> 01:16:14.843
who are in my opinion
the most

01:16:16.777 --> 01:16:24.143
realistic and have
the biggest moral authority

01:16:24.310 --> 01:16:28.023
to talk about these technologies.
They live with them.

01:16:28.237 --> 01:16:33.490
A lot of people talk about this
technology without experiencing it.

01:16:33.690 --> 01:16:37.023
We made or invited...

01:16:37.283 --> 01:16:41.603
We will hold a big conference
about it in Vienna.

01:16:43.237 --> 01:16:46.763
We will talk with mayors,
city halls.

01:16:46.877 --> 01:16:51.057
So, not with the high
political representatives,

01:16:51.190 --> 01:16:57.690
but municipalities with laboratories
or nuclear power plants.

01:16:58.110 --> 01:17:00.330
In our experience,

01:17:01.017 --> 01:17:06.177
these people
are very enthusiastic

01:17:06.550 --> 01:17:10.323
and they talk in favour of these
technologies, because they see

01:17:10.463 --> 01:17:14.563
the effect of the technologies
on their local communities.

01:17:14.717 --> 01:17:19.230
They have 50, 60 years
of experience

01:17:19.710 --> 01:17:24.537
with activities
that people are just making up.

01:17:24.643 --> 01:17:28.090
For example, that you will get cancer
because of the power plant

01:17:28.337 --> 01:17:32.130
or that babies
will be deformed.

01:17:32.657 --> 01:17:37.750
We've heard such statements.
People talk such things.

01:17:37.957 --> 01:17:41.877
We have decided
to invite these people

01:17:42.143 --> 01:17:46.923
and let them talk about their
experience with the nuclear energy.

01:17:47.090 --> 01:17:52.310
How has local community lived,

01:17:52.863 --> 01:17:56.617
hosted a nuclear facility.

01:17:57.943 --> 01:18:02.217
I believe this is
the most solid way,

01:18:04.677 --> 01:18:08.710
how we encourage the acceptance
by the local community.

01:18:08.883 --> 01:18:11.950
If there is a village
with 20,000 people

01:18:12.150 --> 01:18:18.570
that can relate with the experience
of people from a similar village,

01:18:19.643 --> 01:18:24.710
it makes a much bigger impact
than an important speaker

01:18:24.857 --> 01:18:28.603
or a power point presentation.

01:18:31.877 --> 01:18:35.950
We have good experience
in this field.

01:18:37.030 --> 01:18:41.797
These are very important votes.

01:18:41.930 --> 01:18:44.823
We have to understand people

01:18:45.043 --> 01:18:49.523
with the opposite beliefs,
which is important in democracy.

01:18:49.750 --> 01:18:52.603
But our experience is

01:18:52.823 --> 01:18:57.637
that there were two places
in Sweden competing

01:18:58.637 --> 01:19:05.317
to get a long-term depot

01:19:05.423 --> 01:19:10.763
for storing the radioactive waste.
Can you imagine that?

01:19:12.410 --> 01:19:16.297
These two places
were well-informed

01:19:16.437 --> 01:19:20.100
and they made a campaign
for the dumping ground.

01:19:20.220 --> 01:19:22.880
They got the information
from Finland.

01:19:23.079 --> 01:19:27.617
They saw, how many jobs
were obtained because of it.

01:19:27.763 --> 01:19:32.663
They saw the numbers. I am not
a lobbyist in the nuclear field,

01:19:32.763 --> 01:19:40.637
but I want you to hear the experience
of the local communities.

01:19:40.943 --> 01:19:45.997
Maybe you can think
about involving

01:19:46.563 --> 01:19:49.470
Slovenian local communities

01:19:50.477 --> 01:19:54.203
into this alliance
of local communities.

01:19:55.863 --> 01:20:00.203
For example, we have a local
community from the Netherlands,

01:20:00.270 --> 01:20:05.710
but also ordinary people
from Brazil, from Rio de Janeiro.

01:20:06.389 --> 01:20:11.499
We have already started
with this initiative.

01:20:13.990 --> 01:20:17.695
Mr. Kos, you have given
some interesting statistics

01:20:17.816 --> 01:20:20.770
as regards the tripling,

01:20:21.498 --> 01:20:23.726
this is a very
important commitment,

01:20:23.847 --> 01:20:29.620
for the tripling of the construction
of nuclear power plants.

01:20:29.741 --> 01:20:32.901
This is an initiative
of the countries

01:20:33.022 --> 01:20:36.599
that wanted to go
in this direction,

01:20:38.700 --> 01:20:42.907
and, of course, you can do
the mathematical curves

01:20:44.788 --> 01:20:49.232
where you can see that you
would have a hard time achieving it.

01:20:49.353 --> 01:20:54.584
In the 1970s and 80s,
this has already happened in Europe.

01:20:54.705 --> 01:20:59.199
Maybe the accelerated construction
will happen again in the future,

01:20:59.320 --> 01:21:02.493
I don't know.
In France,

01:21:02.819 --> 01:21:08.057
they have issued quite a few
licences for nuclear power plants,

01:21:08.321 --> 01:21:11.107
this is also happening
in the USA.

01:21:11.228 --> 01:21:16.711
This is not happening on Mars,
it's happening here, in our world.

01:21:17.508 --> 01:21:21.304
But a big challenge will be
what you also mentioned,

01:21:21.425 --> 01:21:27.128
we have built very few nuclear power
plants in the previous decades,

01:21:30.961 --> 01:21:33.150
and the effect of that is,

01:21:33.767 --> 01:21:37.789
for example, that the supply
chain has been reduced,

01:21:37.910 --> 01:21:40.191
because people
are doing other things.

01:21:40.312 --> 01:21:43.180
If they don't build
nuclear power plants,

01:21:43.301 --> 01:21:48.236
they turn to oil, gas
or import electricity.

01:21:48.357 --> 01:21:51.314
Let me mention something
you have forgotten.

01:21:51.435 --> 01:21:55.891
The workforce, engineers,
and nuclear professionals

01:21:56.012 --> 01:21:59.591
have a problem
that we're discussing.

01:21:59.712 --> 01:22:05.596
Because in some countries
we have a deficit of professionals,

01:22:05.717 --> 01:22:09.099
of nuclear engineers
that we need.

01:22:12.097 --> 01:22:15.736
China and India

01:22:16.006 --> 01:22:20.678
want to get
these nuclear engineers.

01:22:20.799 --> 01:22:25.732
I'm persuading my children
to study in this field

01:22:25.853 --> 01:22:29.178
because the demand
is really incredible.

01:22:34.236 --> 01:22:38.325
More important than knowing that
you're going to get to that point

01:22:38.446 --> 01:22:44.612
is that you have
clear policies, clear directions.

01:22:45.201 --> 01:22:50.285
If you have a regulator
who knows the plan,

01:22:50.406 --> 01:22:53.648
who knows the direction
you are going,

01:22:54.215 --> 01:22:57.961
then the whole story
is turned on its head.

01:22:59.704 --> 01:23:05.483
If we're saying
that nuclear power is dying,

01:23:06.143 --> 01:23:10.293
that in 20 years we'll forget about
Krško because we'll close it down,

01:23:10.414 --> 01:23:13.786
that's one side of the story.
But if we have another story,

01:23:13.907 --> 01:23:16.949
that we're going to build
a new nuclear power plant,

01:23:17.070 --> 01:23:20.994
that we would like to have small,
modular reactors as well,

01:23:21.115 --> 01:23:26.110
then, of course,
the business atmosphere changes.

01:23:26.231 --> 01:23:30.137
Slovenians will start
to cooperate with the French

01:23:30.258 --> 01:23:36.023
and with other countries, let's say
Italy, your neighbouring country.

01:23:36.600 --> 01:23:39.686
Italy doesn't have
a nuclear power plant in Italy,

01:23:39.807 --> 01:23:42.926
but they are cooperating with
other countries that do have one.

01:23:43.047 --> 01:23:45.324
This is starting to happen.

01:23:45.899 --> 01:23:49.597
With respect,
I wouldn't be so focused

01:23:49.718 --> 01:23:53.132
on whether or not
we'll achieve a tripling

01:23:53.253 --> 01:23:56.821
or whether it will just be
a doubling of construction.

01:23:56.942 --> 01:24:04.195
The projections
of the International Energy Agency

01:24:04.795 --> 01:24:10.903
say that there will be
a 2.5-fold increase.

01:24:11.405 --> 01:24:16.296
We are now lower, our agency
has published its projections,

01:24:16.566 --> 01:24:21.291
and the results show
that there will be a doubling.

01:24:22.667 --> 01:24:26.603
In my opinion,
it's not so much a question

01:24:27.993 --> 01:24:33.068
of achieving exactly
statistically accurate figures,

01:24:33.192 --> 01:24:36.018
but that it's a direction

01:24:40.269 --> 01:24:44.084
which will, of course,
change the whole narrative,

01:24:44.205 --> 01:24:47.636
so that things
will start to move forward.

01:24:48.427 --> 01:24:50.027
Gabrič.

01:24:51.169 --> 01:24:54.955
No. First Gabrič
and then Valenčič.

01:24:57.102 --> 01:25:01.804
Dear Prime Minister,
thank you for the opportunity

01:25:01.925 --> 01:25:05.400
to speak to Director Grossi,

01:25:05.610 --> 01:25:09.989
and for inviting the Ministry
of Foreign and European Affairs

01:25:10.110 --> 01:25:12.792
to participate in this debate.

01:25:12.913 --> 01:25:18.896
My name is Melita Gabrič and
I'm State Secretary at the Ministry.

01:25:20.133 --> 01:25:24.303
I will be brief,
I have just one point to make.

01:25:24.424 --> 01:25:30.293
From the point of view
of our international activities,

01:25:30.414 --> 01:25:34.071
I would like to emphasise
our full support

01:25:34.192 --> 01:25:36.500
for the five principles
and the seven pillars

01:25:36.621 --> 01:25:39.497
of nuclear safety and security.

01:25:39.618 --> 01:25:45.715
We will ensure that we continue
to support these guidelines,

01:25:45.836 --> 01:25:48.393
we are active
in international forums

01:25:48.514 --> 01:25:50.613
and we will continue
this in the future.

01:25:50.734 --> 01:25:56.100
We're doing this on the basis of what
the Prime Minister has emphasised,

01:25:56.221 --> 01:25:58.014
on the basis of our positive,

01:25:58.135 --> 01:26:02.788
even excellent experience
with nuclear safety.

01:26:02.909 --> 01:26:06.367
As some of the other speakers
have also pointed out,

01:26:06.488 --> 01:26:10.505
we have this good practice
and we want to highlight

01:26:10.626 --> 01:26:13.939
and share it internationally,

01:26:14.099 --> 01:26:18.512
so we look forward
to working closely with the Agency

01:26:18.633 --> 01:26:23.293
and with you personally
in this area. Thank you.

01:26:24.788 --> 01:26:26.598
Thank you. Please.

01:26:27.340 --> 01:26:31.508
Matjaž Valenčič,
the Ecological Movements Alliance.

01:26:31.990 --> 01:26:33.990
I'm honoured to be here.

01:26:34.764 --> 01:26:38.497
Nuclear safety
is our common goal.

01:26:39.202 --> 01:26:44.160
But the word 'safety'
has several meanings,

01:26:44.600 --> 01:26:47.707
some people
also call it a challenge.

01:26:48.154 --> 01:26:53.066
We can't condone that,
safety must be a priority.

01:26:53.791 --> 01:26:55.701
There should be no shortcuts.

01:26:55.822 --> 01:27:01.040
I'm also referring
to the forced referendum,

01:27:01.161 --> 01:27:05.083
where we will decide
without proper data.

01:27:05.204 --> 01:27:09.589
This forced referendum
could be a safety risk.

01:27:09.759 --> 01:27:13.301
Let me repeat
the appeal of Prof. Plut,

01:27:13.675 --> 01:27:18.138
we need to reflect on whether
we'll choose a shortcut or safety.

01:27:18.259 --> 01:27:19.859
Thank you.

01:27:21.313 --> 01:27:23.596
Thank you.
Rožman.

01:27:29.779 --> 01:27:31.805
Thank you for the floor.

01:27:32.065 --> 01:27:38.599
I would like to make a brief comment
on all that we have heard,

01:27:40.232 --> 01:27:42.274
based on the conviction,
of course,

01:27:42.395 --> 01:27:45.740
that nuclear energy
is part of the solution

01:27:45.861 --> 01:27:52.179
to the challenges that the world,
Europe and Slovenia are facing today.

01:27:52.950 --> 01:27:56.998
It's part of the solution
in terms of global warming,

01:27:57.119 --> 01:27:59.861
it's part of the solution
in terms of

01:27:59.982 --> 01:28:07.982
ensuring affordable electricity
prices in the long term,

01:28:08.696 --> 01:28:13.708
and it's part of the solution
in terms of supply stability.

01:28:14.437 --> 01:28:16.663
Starting from these facts,

01:28:17.106 --> 01:28:21.901
it's of paramount importance
we all focus

01:28:22.022 --> 01:28:27.425
on implementing the ambitious
nuclear energy and new build plan

01:28:27.906 --> 01:28:30.682
as efficiently as possible.

01:28:30.989 --> 01:28:38.290
This means that we,
and above all the Agency,

01:28:38.411 --> 01:28:43.129
need to work intensively with
the key stakeholders in this process,

01:28:43.250 --> 01:28:45.551
the financial institutions.

01:28:46.014 --> 01:28:52.283
Their views need to include
innovative financing approaches,

01:28:52.407 --> 01:28:54.977
something has already
been said about that.

01:28:55.098 --> 01:28:58.808
We also need to work
intensively with industry

01:28:58.929 --> 01:29:01.912
to make them aware
of their share

01:29:02.033 --> 01:29:05.575
in the efficiency
of project implementation.

01:29:05.696 --> 01:29:12.371
Their seven-year timelines
for implementation are unacceptable.

01:29:12.936 --> 01:29:15.898
We'll be happy
and we'll achieve the objectives

01:29:16.019 --> 01:29:18.918
if the industry
is in a position to offer projects

01:29:19.039 --> 01:29:23.492
that will be implemented
at least in four years.

01:29:23.698 --> 01:29:29.288
I think that part of the industry is
already approaching this capacity,

01:29:29.409 --> 01:29:32.475
but this means
the efficiency of the projects.

01:29:32.596 --> 01:29:37.009
If the projects are implemented
efficiently and quickly enough,

01:29:37.130 --> 01:29:40.589
then the financial sector
will also look at these projects

01:29:40.710 --> 01:29:42.584
in a completely different way

01:29:42.708 --> 01:29:47.254
and ensure the availability
of its resources and financing.

01:29:47.375 --> 01:29:53.601
We also need to aggressively work
with the regulators.

01:29:54.114 --> 01:29:55.897
This has been mentioned before.

01:29:56.018 --> 01:29:59.331
In terms of harmonising
the regulatory framework

01:29:59.452 --> 01:30:07.105
and in terms of simplifying
the processes and the approach.

01:30:07.598 --> 01:30:11.776
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
has already begun

01:30:12.264 --> 01:30:15.904
its own effective transformation.

01:30:16.855 --> 01:30:19.895
We haven't seen this
in Europe yet.

01:30:20.097 --> 01:30:22.692
These are the three spheres,
the financing,

01:30:22.813 --> 01:30:26.148
the effective implementation
of projects,

01:30:26.269 --> 01:30:28.571
the effective regulatory process,

01:30:28.692 --> 01:30:31.811
all of which can lead
to the realisation of the objectives

01:30:31.932 --> 01:30:33.851
that we have all set ourselves

01:30:34.007 --> 01:30:40.000
and that global
and European energy policy

01:30:41.120 --> 01:30:44.655
has set itself to accelerate

01:30:45.692 --> 01:30:50.528
the use of and the construction
in the field of nuclear energy.

01:30:50.649 --> 01:30:53.968
I can also agree with the points
that have been made.

01:30:54.089 --> 01:30:56.768
We need to change
the way we live.

01:30:56.889 --> 01:30:59.722
Yes, but changing
the way we live

01:30:59.843 --> 01:31:03.330
means higher
electricity consumption.

01:31:04.572 --> 01:31:10.302
Lower energy consumption,
but higher electricity consumption.

01:31:10.423 --> 01:31:14.194
All the processes
are being electrified,

01:31:15.253 --> 01:31:17.478
many of them
have already been mentioned.

01:31:17.599 --> 01:31:21.802
There should be no dilemma

01:31:21.923 --> 01:31:26.688
whether we need
more sources of electricity.

01:31:26.808 --> 01:31:29.268
And there is no dilemma,
at least not for me.

01:31:29.389 --> 01:31:33.324
The electricity consumption
is going to grow.

01:31:33.604 --> 01:31:36.586
So I'm appealing
to the Agency,

01:31:36.707 --> 01:31:39.971
which has been
extremely successful,

01:31:40.292 --> 01:31:47.506
to sharpen its focus and intensity
of work in these three areas,

01:31:47.627 --> 01:31:51.894
so that there really is
a transformation of the whole system,

01:31:52.015 --> 01:31:57.283
and to enable projects to be
carried out efficiently. Thank you.

01:31:57.436 --> 01:32:01.395
Thank you.
We're running out of time,

01:32:01.516 --> 01:32:04.220
I'll allow
two very short replies.

01:32:04.341 --> 01:32:10.801
First Snoj. Okay, that's it.
Please. Be short.

01:32:12.702 --> 01:32:14.783
Thank you, Luka Snoj,
Jožef Stefan Institute,

01:32:14.904 --> 01:32:16.837
the largest research
institute in Slovenia,

01:32:16.958 --> 01:32:18.705
the only in the field
of nuclear power.

01:32:18.826 --> 01:32:22.499
We have a long history of excellent
cooperation with the IAEA

01:32:22.620 --> 01:32:25.239
in the field of research reactors
and researches.

01:32:25.360 --> 01:32:30.381
The nuclear expertise in Slovenia
started at the Jožef Štefan Institute

01:32:30.502 --> 01:32:33.975
and later developed with the
construction of the nuclear reactor.

01:32:34.096 --> 01:32:37.297
Today the Institute is an important
part of the social infrastructure

01:32:37.418 --> 01:32:42.210
which supports the safe
and efficient use of nuclear energy.

01:32:42.799 --> 01:32:45.094
The nuclear power plant
is a major facility

01:32:45.215 --> 01:32:48.055
that has existed in society
for more than a century,

01:32:48.176 --> 01:32:53.574
and in order to face
great challenges ...

01:32:53.840 --> 01:32:58.428
The last century was full of great
sociological turning points.

01:32:58.549 --> 01:33:02.224
100 years ago, this society, this
country was completely different,

01:33:02.345 --> 01:33:06.280
and the only way to face this
is through research and development.

01:33:06.405 --> 01:33:10.388
I have a question for both
the Prime Minister and the Director.

01:33:10.509 --> 01:33:14.291
Where do you see the role of
science and research reactors

01:33:14.412 --> 01:33:16.106
in the nuclear renaissance?

01:33:16.227 --> 01:33:19.298
In 1980, Europe had
300 research reactors,

01:33:19.419 --> 01:33:22.739
today there are only 30.
That's the first question.

01:33:22.860 --> 01:33:26.535
The second question
for Director Grossi ...

01:33:26.744 --> 01:33:29.702
Today we are obviously
facing a construction cramp,

01:33:29.823 --> 01:33:33.100
which is partly due to the
over-regulation of this industry

01:33:33.221 --> 01:33:34.821
compared to others,

01:33:34.942 --> 01:33:38.306
we're in a very unequal position
with other technologies.

01:33:38.427 --> 01:33:41.250
For example, I'm the head
of the TRIGA research reactor,

01:33:41.375 --> 01:33:45.058
for me it's a million times more
dangerous to go to work by bicycle

01:33:45.179 --> 01:33:48.908
than to work on a reactor, which
is one of my safest activities.

01:33:49.029 --> 01:33:53.602
This is a little provocative,
but could you consider

01:33:53.841 --> 01:33:57.653
a completely different treatment
of nuclear technology in society?

01:33:57.774 --> 01:34:01.413
As with medicine
and pharmaceuticals,

01:34:01.880 --> 01:34:06.006
where the benefit
has to be greater than the harm.

01:34:06.525 --> 01:34:10.696
Nuclear energy will definitely
address climate change,

01:34:10.817 --> 01:34:16.191
nuclear energy will allow
a rise in the standard of living,

01:34:16.312 --> 01:34:21.997
it will allow a lot of people to use
low-carbon and stable energy.

01:34:22.331 --> 01:34:26.910
Without nuclear energy,
people will die of other things.

01:34:27.031 --> 01:34:28.987
Is it possible
to radically change

01:34:29.108 --> 01:34:31.949
the philosophy
of the treatment of nuclear energy,

01:34:32.070 --> 01:34:37.502
or at least treat it the same way
as other technologies? Thank you.

01:34:37.623 --> 01:34:39.492
Okay, and now ... Yes.

01:34:41.398 --> 01:34:44.857
Mr. Prime Minister,
Mr. Director General,

01:34:45.475 --> 01:34:51.677
I will switch to English,
this will probably be faster

01:34:51.798 --> 01:34:54.022
and more efficient.

01:34:54.143 --> 01:34:58.926
Thank you for inviting me,
I'm Leon Cizelj,

01:34:59.477 --> 01:35:03.096
a researcher at the
Jožef Štefan Institute.

01:35:03.217 --> 01:35:05.690
I have also recently been
appointed professor

01:35:05.811 --> 01:35:08.303
at Harvard University
engineering programme in China.

01:35:08.424 --> 01:35:15.644
This is the largest nuclear
technology education programme.

01:35:16.128 --> 01:35:19.818
I would like to pick up
on some of the points

01:35:19.939 --> 01:35:22.315
about communication
across borders.

01:35:22.436 --> 01:35:29.101
I agree with that,
Luka Snoj mentioned science,

01:35:29.222 --> 01:35:31.937
and science
can help enormously.

01:35:32.287 --> 01:35:37.284
First, we need to look
at regulation,

01:35:37.405 --> 01:35:43.602
the regulation at NEK
is based on science,

01:35:43.723 --> 01:35:46.445
and that is why
it works so well.

01:35:47.892 --> 01:35:55.741
Now that science has been
somewhat excluded,

01:35:55.862 --> 01:35:58.529
things are more problematic.
Science can also help

01:35:58.650 --> 01:36:03.079
in discussions with many
different stakeholders, communities.

01:36:03.200 --> 01:36:09.314
Science can also help in getting
the required manpower,

01:36:09.435 --> 01:36:13.900
we need a well-educated,
skilled workforce.

01:36:14.986 --> 01:36:20.198
When it comes to
tripling nuclear capacity,

01:36:20.319 --> 01:36:23.150
we're also talking about
a tremendous need

01:36:23.271 --> 01:36:26.409
for additional
educated manpower

01:36:26.534 --> 01:36:32.289
and the nuclear alliance
will only deliver

01:36:32.410 --> 01:36:38.986
150 GW of energy.

01:36:39.107 --> 01:36:43.495
Who will work
in these institutions,

01:36:43.616 --> 01:36:48.409
who will take the lead
in the infrastructure agreement?

01:36:48.530 --> 01:36:50.846
Let me mention infrastructure.

01:36:50.967 --> 01:36:54.408
I would say
that the infrastructure

01:36:54.529 --> 01:37:01.603
in a country that has a nuclear
power plant operates differently

01:37:01.790 --> 01:37:03.796
from the infrastructure
in a country

01:37:03.917 --> 01:37:08.110
that is just building
a nuclear power plant.

01:37:08.507 --> 01:37:13.515
In many aspects. Can we hear
something about that? Thank you.

01:37:21.198 --> 01:37:26.894
Just a few observations
on your last questions.

01:37:30.230 --> 01:37:35.098
Mrs. Gabrič, I would like
to thank you for your support.

01:37:38.126 --> 01:37:41.190
So, the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.

01:37:42.198 --> 01:37:46.724
Slovenia, as a non-permanent
member of the Security Council,

01:37:46.845 --> 01:37:48.774
has a very important role
to play,

01:37:48.895 --> 01:37:52.279
also because
of the world-wide situation.

01:37:53.220 --> 01:38:01.156
From time to time, I'm called upon
to talk to the Security Council,

01:38:01.609 --> 01:38:06.588
to brief them.
Thank you for your words,

01:38:06.709 --> 01:38:11.309
and I have also talked
to the Prime Minister about this.

01:38:11.692 --> 01:38:16.183
Mr. Snoj and the Professor,
as far as regulation is concerned,

01:38:16.304 --> 01:38:18.884
you have heard
my words before,

01:38:19.005 --> 01:38:21.285
of course,
there is a need for that,

01:38:21.406 --> 01:38:26.217
and certainly, you're having good
discussions with the regulators here,

01:38:26.338 --> 01:38:29.373
but we have to move away

01:38:29.494 --> 01:38:32.297
from the mentality
that things are impossible

01:38:32.418 --> 01:38:35.763
to the mentality
that they are possible.

01:38:36.400 --> 01:38:39.799
And also what is possible.

01:38:43.773 --> 01:38:51.089
Mr. Prime Minister,
thank you for your invitation,

01:38:51.210 --> 01:38:55.188
I think this is
a very exemplary meeting

01:38:55.309 --> 01:38:58.453
which we need to continue
in other countries,

01:38:58.574 --> 01:39:04.669
open discussions
to also highlight different views,

01:39:04.984 --> 01:39:07.281
we're particularly interested

01:39:07.402 --> 01:39:12.159
in the views of those
opposed to nuclear energy.

01:39:12.597 --> 01:39:15.302
I think
this is very important.

01:39:18.290 --> 01:39:22.050
I'm very active,
for example, in Asia,

01:39:22.407 --> 01:39:25.053
as far as the problems

01:39:25.174 --> 01:39:28.601
that have happened
after Fukushima are concerned,

01:39:28.722 --> 01:39:31.392
I'm talking to the Chamber
of Commerce in Japan,

01:39:31.513 --> 01:39:33.271
to ordinary people

01:39:33.845 --> 01:39:39.758
who have been
directly affected by this.

01:39:39.879 --> 01:39:42.653
And they deserve answers,

01:39:42.774 --> 01:39:46.328
and so do
the Pacific Island countries,

01:39:48.707 --> 01:39:56.604
who, of course, have fears about
pollution because of Fukushima.

01:39:56.725 --> 01:39:59.908
These are fishermen,
workers, ordinary people,

01:40:00.029 --> 01:40:03.384
who, of course,
don't have a high education,

01:40:03.505 --> 01:40:07.885
but these people need to be
taken seriously and listened to.

01:40:08.006 --> 01:40:09.611
I would like to thank you,

01:40:09.732 --> 01:40:14.508
to commend you for organising
such a meeting, such a debate.

01:40:14.629 --> 01:40:20.486
Today I have learnt a lot from you.
But, of course, our work continues,

01:40:22.525 --> 01:40:27.098
our energy is always available
to you, I hope you know that.

01:40:27.219 --> 01:40:29.657
Thank you for your attention.

01:40:31.008 --> 01:40:35.624
I think that the debate
has shown very well,

01:40:36.085 --> 01:40:38.186
on the one hand,

01:40:39.865 --> 01:40:42.794
what the opportunities are
that nuclear energy

01:40:42.915 --> 01:40:45.710
can provide for
the decarbonisation of our planet,

01:40:45.831 --> 01:40:50.052
and on the other hand,
all the concerns, the fears

01:40:50.568 --> 01:40:55.603
and all the challenges
that we have to respond to

01:40:56.395 --> 01:41:01.001
if we want to see nuclear projects
anywhere in the world,

01:41:01.122 --> 01:41:04.812
including Slovenia,
carried out efficiently.

01:41:05.418 --> 01:41:09.005
There is a lot of work to be done
if we want to reach this stage.

01:41:09.126 --> 01:41:10.896
We're not there yet.

01:41:11.017 --> 01:41:15.411
So I would like to address
two questions.

01:41:15.836 --> 01:41:20.594
Firstly, how nuclear energy
will help decarbonisation.

01:41:21.400 --> 01:41:23.000
It's not a short-term measure,

01:41:23.616 --> 01:41:26.999
we have to meet the targets by 2030
without nuclear energy,

01:41:27.135 --> 01:41:29.914
and we will meet them
without nuclear energy.

01:41:30.035 --> 01:41:32.496
Nuclear energy
will help Slovenia to be able

01:41:32.620 --> 01:41:38.004
to fully decarbonise
the energy sector by 2040.

01:41:38.490 --> 01:41:43.505
That's the target that
nuclear energy has to help meet.

01:41:44.255 --> 01:41:46.986
Secondly,
the referendum as such

01:41:47.794 --> 01:41:50.993
is not aimed at a final decision
on the nuclear power plant.

01:41:51.114 --> 01:41:53.601
There's no doubt about that.
The final decision

01:41:53.722 --> 01:41:56.410
can be taken in 2027,
maybe 2028,

01:41:56.531 --> 01:41:59.681
when we will have all the answers
to all the challenges

01:41:59.802 --> 01:42:02.505
that have also been raised today
by the experts

01:42:02.626 --> 01:42:06.225
who have been involved in
nuclear technology all their lives.

01:42:06.346 --> 01:42:10.606
When we get these answers,
this will take a couple of years,

01:42:10.727 --> 01:42:13.564
not only in Slovenia,
but on a global level,

01:42:13.685 --> 01:42:17.073
we will be able
to take a final decision.

01:42:17.706 --> 01:42:23.991
If we want to be ready
to get on this train in 2027,

01:42:24.413 --> 01:42:26.297
we have to invest in it,

01:42:26.418 --> 01:42:28.953
and the referendum
is precisely about

01:42:29.074 --> 01:42:33.030
whether Slovenia
will be actively preparing,

01:42:33.151 --> 01:42:36.996
by investing
in the project documentation,

01:42:37.117 --> 01:42:39.503
by investing also
in the research activity

01:42:39.624 --> 01:42:41.370
and the training
of human resources,

01:42:41.491 --> 01:42:45.145
which has to take place before
the final decision can be taken.

01:42:45.266 --> 01:42:48.896
Whether we're going
to invest significant resources,

01:42:49.017 --> 01:42:51.387
resources in excess
of 100 million euros.

01:42:51.508 --> 01:42:54.012
That's why we're having
this referendum,

01:42:54.133 --> 01:42:58.182
because we want to know
whether this option is something

01:42:58.303 --> 01:43:02.575
that our citizens believe
to be a realistic option.

01:43:03.198 --> 01:43:07.401
We're going to decide on the
feasibility of the project in 2027.

01:43:07.522 --> 01:43:11.407
What I can announce today,
and I will take this opportunity,

01:43:11.814 --> 01:43:14.650
is that if we have
a positive result in the referendum,

01:43:14.771 --> 01:43:18.021
Svoboda
will immediately submit an act

01:43:18.142 --> 01:43:21.420
on the preparation
of the NEK 2 project.

01:43:21.804 --> 01:43:25.135
We will take it all
to the legislative level,

01:43:25.256 --> 01:43:26.856
because that's the only way

01:43:26.977 --> 01:43:31.696
if we want to get closer to getting
the project done efficiently.

01:43:31.817 --> 01:43:35.732
And so that we don't repeat
the story of TEŠ 6.

01:43:36.214 --> 01:43:39.897
I would like to thank everyone,
especially the Director General,

01:43:40.018 --> 01:43:41.877
for being with us today.

01:43:41.998 --> 01:43:44.698
I think he has highlighted
many dilemmas

01:43:44.819 --> 01:43:46.984
that we still have to resolve.

01:43:47.105 --> 01:43:50.978
I believe that, together with
the international institutions,

01:43:51.099 --> 01:43:53.700
and the other countries
that are working on this,

01:43:53.821 --> 01:43:58.696
we will be able to do this
in the years to come. Thank you.