Ljubljana’s main district heating plant, TE-TOL, has officially taken over a new gas-steam unit, significantly reducing its dependence on coal. With this move, coal now makes up only 20% of the plant’s fuel mix, down from 65%, marking a major step in Slovenia’s transition toward cleaner energy.
Slovenia has set 2033 as its official coal exit date, but recent actions suggest the phase-out could happen sooner. Late last year, the government approved a €403 million support package to restructure key coal assets, including TPP Sostanj and the Velenje coalmine, which will be transferred from state-owned HSE to direct state control.
The updated fuel mix at TE-TOL now includes 60% natural gas, 20% coal, and 20% wood biomass. The transformation was enabled by the completion of the gas-steam unit, delivered by a Greek contractor and now operated by state-owned Energetika Ljubljana. The facility is currently in a trial phase under a three-year warranty, with full operation expected by the next heating season.
The new unit features two gas turbines (each producing 57 MW) and a steam turbine (42 MW). Once fully operational, TE-TOL will become Slovenia’s third-largest electricity producer, supplying about 8% of national demand—enough for around 600,000 households.