MPs in Slovenia’s main opposition party to the governing coalition have filed a proposal to call a consultative referendum on whether to build a new 1,100-MW reactor at the Krško nuclear power station along with several small modular reactors.

The move is designed to accelerate the approval process for the new units, the Slovenian Telegraph Agency (STA) reported.

The proposal came from the centre-right Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), opposition to the left-wing coalition led by the Freedom Movement party.

In a statement on 18 January, the SDS suggested that the referendum take place at the same time as the European elections that will be held between 6-9 June.