Poland joins Ignalina, Czechs consider

01 March 2007

[Reuters, 23 February; Interfax, 26 February] The three Baltic states, together with Poland, have agreed in principle to construct a nuclear power plant in Lithuania by 2015. Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus said, "There is an agreement between Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland to secure energy independence by building more than one reactor." Under the agreement, Lithuania would have 34% of the project and Latvia, Estonia and Poland would each have 22%. Lithuanian prime minister Gediminas Kirkilas said that a final deal to build the plant was expected to be signed by mid-2008, with a tender to supply the reactors due by early 2009. The proposed plant's capacity is now expected to be up to 3200 MWe, up from the initially planned 800-1600 MWe. Kirkilas also said that Lithuania was interested in attracting Sweden and the Czech Republic to the project. Vaclav Bartuska, Czech government commissioner for energy security, said that utility CEZ is expected to "probably" participate in the project. He said he is scheduled to meet participants in the project to discuss its economics, adding that "this is an economic project and it has to be judged on economic merits."

Further information

WNN: Poland to join new Ignalina project "as soon as possible"

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