Visit of European Commissioner Hoekstra and Minister Kumer

Hrastnik, 12 March 2025 – European Commissioner for Climate Action, Net Zero Emissions, and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, was on a working visit to Ljubljana today. He met with the Minister for Environment, Climate, and Energy, Bojan Kumer, to discuss, among other topics, the key challenges and opportunities for Slovenia’s green transition.

Their talks focused on Slovenia’s role in achieving the EU’s climate policy objectives and energy transition, as well as the financing of EU initiatives and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Commissioner Hoekstra also visited Steklarna Hrastnik, where he and the Minister were briefed on projects under the Horizon Europe programme and the EU Innovation Fund. They emphasised developing a hybrid regenerative glass furnace (BEAR), which utilizes clean electricity to heat glass instead of fossil fuels, contributing to the decarbonisation of the European glass industry. This is Slovenia’s first and only project to be co-funded by the European Innovation Fund.

»We are delighted that our commitment to a sustainable future and breakthrough innovations is not going unnoticed. Two years ago, we were the first to industrialise the use of hydrogen, and we have continued our pioneering innovations in 2024. Last year, as part of Sustainable Week, we launched a hybrid furnace within the BEAR project—the first project co-funded by the EU Innovation Fund. Of course, we are not resting on our laurels in 2025 either; we continue to strive for more environmentally friendly work processes and technologies,« said the Managing Director of HRASTNIK1860, MSc. Peter Čas.

HRASTNIK1860’s efforts towards sustainable development are gaining recognition and serve as an important example and incentive for accelerating the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries in Europe and beyond.