Martin Novšak was fired because he failed to immediately notify the supervisory board or the Nuclear Safety Administration of an opinion by IRSN, a French nuclear safety institute.
IRSN advised Gen energija against building a second reactor on-site of the current nuclear power station, arguing that the site is inappropriate due to its geological and seismic features.
The decision is also underpinned, according to the supervisors, by the company's worsening business results and Novšak's failure to implement priority projects.
The supervisors claim to have warned Novšak repeatedly since 2010 of undue conduct, but he is said to have ignored them.
Igor Šalamun, until yesterday state secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning, was appointed acting director for six months and tasked with carrying out procedures to find a new boss.
The decision caps weeks of speculation about Novšak's dismissal, which media reports suggest has to do with a battle for control of the lucrative energy sector.
Dnevnik reported as far back as in June 2012 that Novšak was on the chopping block, but his dismissal had reportedly been prevented by his allies in the People's Party (SLS).
The paper said he was being axed by Labour Minister Andrej Vizjak, a member of Janez Janša's Democrats (SDS),who has been described as an "informal leader" of the Sava basin energy lobby.
Novšak told the STA he was surprised by the move. He said he would comment when he is formally informed about the reasons for the dismissal.
Gen energija, aside from controlling the sale of half of the electricity produced in Krško (which Slovenia owns jointly with Croatia), also operates hydro plants on the River Sava and has a 50% stake in energy trader Gen-I.
Source: SloveniaTimes
