Slovenia’s Šoštanj thermal power plant expects to bring Unit 6 back into service before the winter heating season. The timetable follows inspections that uncovered damage in the turbine’s intermediate-pressure section. Plant officials said the restart target is set for October.
Turbine damage found during summer overhaul
Elevated vibration was detected shortly before the unit entered its planned summer overhaul. Engineers, working with specialists from GE Steam Power, identified damage in the turbine’s labyrinth section. That finding triggered a wider technical inspection across the turbine.
The affected component cannot be repaired in Slovenia. It has been transported to GE’s facility in Berlin for refurbishment. As part of the same technical scope, the turbine’s high-pressure section is undergoing a full inspection as a precaution against additional defects.
Refurbishment and commissioning schedule
Commissioning tests are scheduled to begin in mid-October 2026. The start date is conditional on completion of the repair and satisfactory inspection results. The planned sequence is intended to allow Unit 6 to return before electricity and district-heating demand increases during winter.
The outage also has implications beyond the plant site. Slovenia is already exposed to lower nuclear production at Krško. The country is additionally affected by hydrological constraints linked to drought and high river temperatures, which can limit generation options.
Settlement terms with GE and cost allocation
The repair work is being carried out under a settlement agreement previously concluded between the plant and GE. The arrangement includes a long-term service contract worth approximately €110mn. Coverage includes planned maintenance, spare parts, manufacturer support and digital upgrades through 2029–2030.
The final cost of the current intervention has not been determined. Cost allocation will depend on detailed terms of the settlement and service agreement, including warranties, defect responsibility and how the damaged component is classified. With an October target already in place, there is limited schedule contingency if further defects are found in Berlin or during reassembly.
