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This summary is provided by the STA
TEŠ gets green light for importing coal
LJUBLJANA - The Šoštanj coal-fired power plant (TEŠ) has been given the green light to import coal after the Environment Agency decided it did not need an environmental permit to mix the locally extracted lignite with imported coal. TEŠ said imports were only an alternative option and that it was not looking for a supplier. The former environment minister, Jure Leben, said in February that before issuing a permit for TEŠ to import coal, it should be determined whether those in charge of the controversial unit six, TEŠ6, had misled the public about the quality and quantity of coal reserves at the Velenje mine.
Slovenia opposes plan on 10,000-strong border force by 2027
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia does not support the compromise agreement to set up a 10,000-strong EU-wide border and coastguard by 2027. According to Slovenian diplomatic sources, the agreement does not bring sufficient added value and lacks objective criteria on determining national contributions. Unofficially, Slovenia joined Spain and Italy in opposition to the plan on Monday as EU members' ambassadors endorsed last week's agreement by the negotiators of the EU central institutions to reinforce the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
Ex-Istrabenz CEO Bavčar gets 30 months for abuse of office
KOPER - The Koper District Court sentenced former Istrabenz general manager Igor Bavčar to two years and six months in prison for abuse of office. Since he is already serving a five-year prison sentence for money laundering related to a deal involving Istrabenz shares, he was given a uniform sentence of seven years and five months. The other defendant, former Maksima Holding director general Miroslav Golubić, got a year and eight months for complicity. Bavčar, a former home affairs minister, had acted to the detriment of Istrabenz to protect a company in which he was the absolute owner.
Teodor Žepič named acting DG of UKC Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - The council of Slovenia's largest medical centre, UKC Ljubljana, appointed Teodor Žepič as acting director general, to succeed Aleš Šabeder, who became health minister last week. Žepič, 49, has been managing the Paediatric Clinic, a member of UKC Ljubljana, since June 2018, having previously served at managerial positions mainly in the banking sector. Žepič said his priority would be the hospital's restructuring. A full-term director is to be appointed by early July at the latest.
CoE report says Slovenian prisons overcrowded
STRASBOURG, France - Slovenian prisons are slightly overcrowded, shows a report on the state of European prison systems released by the Council of Europe. Slovenia had 100.5 inmates per 100 places available on average in 2018, while the European average was 91.4. The country's incarceration rate, at 61.1/100,000, remains one of the lowest in Europe. Slovenia saw the proportion of foreign prisoners increase to 14% of the prison population last year, which was due to illegal migration. Slovenia was also listed among countries which notably increased the prison budget in 2018.
Writers' chairman blames underfunding for resignation
LJUBLJANA - Aksinja Kermauner formally handed her resignation as the chairman of the Slovenian Writers' Association (DSP) in protest at the state's attitude to the association and severe underfunding. "The state has in fact brought an esteemed organisation such as the DSP to its knees," Kermauner said, adding that the association did not have enough funds to pay the staff and to function normally. She said the DSP would need at least twice as much funding as it received now. It received EUR 212,800 last year.
Int'l PEN meeting to look at "other" and reflect on young readers
BLED - The International Women's Committee, led by Australian PEN's Zoe Rodriguez, met in Bled ahead of the 51st International PEN writers' meeting opening on Wednesday. The central topics of this year's PEN meeting are the representation of the other and awakening interest in literature among young people. Fifty guests from 35 countries are expected until 7 April at what is the largest and longest-running writers' meeting in the world.
Resalta gets EUR 6m injection from EIF
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - The Slovenian provider of energy and sustainable solutions Resalta signed an agreement with the European Investment Fund (EIF) under under which it will get an EUR 6m capital injection. The equity, half of which will be provided by private investors, will help the company make a transition from a start-up to a major international energy provider. The investment will be guaranteed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments), the key part of the Juncker Plan.
Adria Airways not to fly Sukhoi planes
BRNIK - The German-owned Slovenian air carrier Adria Airways announced it would not expand its fleet with Sukhoi Superjet SSJ100 aircraft, after failing to agree the terms of the long-term lease with the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company. The two companies signed a letter of intent under which Adria would lease 15 aircraft from the Russian company on 26 November. As a result, Adria would not need a capital injection to finance the arrival of new planes, but a EUR 10m recapitalisation was still planned.
Yugoslav-era phone spying hub opposite Postojna caves opened to public
POSTOJNA - Visitors of the famous Postojnska Jama caves will be able to access yet another well hidden secret, but this time of a very different kind. A museum of eavesdropping opened at Jama Hotel right next to the caves after a "non-existing" phone surveillance nest of the Communist secret police was discovered during renovation. The complex numbers several rooms and can also be accessed from the caves. They were discovered only in 2017, as they were reportedly not drawn in the hotel's original plans.
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