ZAGREB, 26 Sept (Hina) – Croatia is developing a legislative framework to enable the construction of a nuclear power plant, which would be crucial for energy security and self-sufficiency, Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar said on Friday.

“All modern and sovereign countries are moving in this direction. To achieve energy sovereignty, we must follow this path, because without self-sufficiency and sovereignty in energy, we cannot be fully sovereign in healthcare, education, or industrial production,” Šušnjar said.

The new law will establish a Nuclear Energy Agency responsible for matters including site selection and technology. Šušnjar said some locations have already been studied.

On cooperation between the Croatian oil pipeline operator JANAF and Serbia’s oil firm NIS, he said relations are “very good”, though NIS is subject to U.S. sanctions due to its ownership structure.

Responding to Hungarian claims that JANAF cannot deliver sufficient oil to Hungary and Slovakia, Šušnjar said Croatia and JANAF can supply all required volumes. “The statements by (Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó are inaccurate. I invite him to come and I will host him so we can test the quantities JANAF can deliver to Hungary and Slovakia.”

He added that transport costs decrease proportionally as volumes increase. Currently, JANAF transports around two million tonnes of crude for processing at Szazhalombatta refinery in Hungary. Šušnjar said combined annual production at this and the Bratislava refinery in Slovakia is around 13 million tonnes, and Croatia can guarantee delivery of 15 million tonnes of oil to the two countries.

“The benefits of Russian oil go exclusively to the Hungarians, who are taking advantage of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine to buy oil at lower prices, process it, and make huge profits,” he said.