Poland less sure on Ignalina

03 January 2008

[Bloomberg; Wall Street Journal Polska, 3 January] Poland's newly-elected Liberal Democratic Congress government has not shown the enthusiasm of its predecessor for participation in the Ignalina nuclear project in neighbouring Lithuania. That country plus Latvia and Estonia all wish to replace the Soviet-era RBMK-1500 reactor at Ignalina which must close under European Union rules. An identical unit at the plant has already shut down. Poland's participation in the project would mean building two new large reactors instead of one and a 'power bridge' link to the wider European grid network, but according to reports this is 'not predestined'. New economy minister Waldemar Pawlak has reaffirmed coal as Poland's key fuel for coming decades.

Further information

WNN: Poland joins Ignalina, Czechs consider
WNN: Poland to join Ignalina project "as soon as possible"

---