The Lithuanian government on Wednesday approved the Energy Ministry’s proposal to assess the potential for developing nuclear energy in the country.
The ministry will set up a special working group for this purpose.
“We are essentially talking about small modular nuclear reactors,” Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The ministry says that, in view of the challenges of climate change and energy security, nuclear reactors with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts (GW) could be installed in Lithuania.
The country’s electricity demand is expected to grow in the future, potentially reaching 24 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2030, 48 TWh in 2040, and 74 TWh in 2050.
“In order to ensure adequate electricity generation capacity and a reliable, accessible power supply for electricity needs, it is necessary to consider new, clean, and controllable electricity generation capacities in Lithuania,” the ministry said.
Until 2010, Lithuania had operated the Soviet-built Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant with Russian reactors. The country committed to closing the plant when it joined the European Union. A subsequent referendum on the construction of a new nuclear power plant was unsuccessful.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
