Baltic States - source: Nordregio

(Best Syndication News) The expert particularly stated: "We know that the Ignalina nuclear plant will be closed down. This is already adopted political decision that shall not be subject to variation. Curious is the reaction of Baltic States on this event. In comparison with a world-wide nuclear renaissance, they are undergoing the era of nuclear romanticism. All the states of the region declared their wish to build NPPs. Previous week this list lacked only Estonia – and now it has joint".

Konstantin Simonov has noted that, only Russia and Belarus have real chances to construct an NPP. "My apologies, but NPP construction is much different from a WC construction. Qualified personnel, specialists and further maintenance and service are urgent.

Belarus takes it serious, establishing new educational specializations in High School. Meanwhile Poland and Baltic States only make plain declarations". Their projects seem especially odd in crises. In comparison with Russia and West European countries, Baltic States undergoing the gravest economic period. And it’s absolutely beyond understanding how they are going to build NPPs. Kaliningrad nuclear plant would be pretty sufficient to assure all the regional energy demands completely. This countries should objectively calculate the aggregate demand, instead of exchanging allegations", - considers Russian expert.

According to the European Union requirement, Lithuania should cease the Ignalina plant operation in 2009. Lithuania in association with Estonia, Latvia and Poland has planned to construct a new NPP by 2018, however the negotiations between the Parties drag on.

As the Lithuanian Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas stated, "at the moment, we don’t know whether this project will be accomplished at all". Estonia declared its dissatisfaction about the uncertainty of the situation around new nuclear plant building. In consequences, it has approved the project of nuclear energy development within its own territory.

However, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Estonia Urmas Paet admitted, the construction of the nuclear plant within the territory of the Republic would have involved giant investments, expertise and experience and there is no such potential in Estonia currently.

Another problem would arise with nuclear waste dump. In the end of 2008 Polish Government has declared the intention to build an NPP. Belarusian authorities also plan to build an NPP and to commission the first reactor in 2016, and the second in 2018. And the commissioning of Baltic NPP in Kaliningrad region is planed in 2015.