Lithuania adopts law on new reactors

28 June 2007

[Reuters, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 27 June] Lithuania's parliament has adopted a law concerning the construction of a new nuclear power plant. In the last of three readings, the draft law was approved by 107 of the 120 members of parliament present. In February 2007 the three Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and Poland agreed to build a new nuclear plant at Ignalina, initially with 3200 MWe capacity (2 x 1600 MWe). At least one unit of the project is expected to be operating by 2015. The new law, which aims to give the project a legal framework, specifies that Lithuania, as host country, should hold a 34% stake in the project, with voting rights to match. The remaining stakes are expected to be equally held by the other partners. Latvia's Latvenergo, Estonia's Eesti Energia and Poland's Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne have said they were interested in participating in the project. The total cost of the project could be up to $8.57 billion. An agreement on the construction of the plant is expected to be signed by the prime ministers of the Baltic states and Poland in Vilnius on 6 July. A tender for the supply of the reactors could be announced in late 2008 or early 2009. Following the vote, Lithuanian prime minister Gediminas Kirkilas said, "Lithuania has made a strategic step, which will enhance our energy independence and strengthen our cooperation with partners in the region."

Further information

WNA's Nuclear Power in Lithuania information paper

WNN: Sweden & Poland linked to Lithuanian NPP
WNN: Poland joins Ignalina, Czechs consider

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