BNS Lithuanian Energy Minister Jaroslav Neverovič said on Wednesday that the government might make its decision on the Visaginas nuclear power plant project in the first half of this year.
BNS
Lithuanian Energy Minister Jaroslav Neverovič said on Wednesday that the government might make its decision on the Visaginas nuclear power plant project in the first half of this year.
“All depends on ourselves, our regional partners and the strategic investor. An action plan that was discussed today enables us to make decisions during the first half of this year,” he told reporters after the first meeting of a national commission that discussed the future of the Baltic electricity market and the new nuclear power plant project.
Asked whether there was a deadline for decisions to be made, he replied: “I think it may be known after the meeting of our representatives at the governmental level or after the meeting of prime ministers.”
Following October 2012 non-binding referendum on a new nuclear facility, which saw the majority of voters turn down the nuclear power plant initiative, the government last year opened new consultations with Latvia and Estonia on the project. The Prime Minister, meanwhile, would always mention new dates for the final decision to be taken.
Neverovič pointed out that Lithuania needed a competitive source of electricity generation and the nuclear facility was one of the options. However, the project might be implemented at the regional level.
“I believe that we will be able to provide all proposals and answers to prime ministers during the first half of the year,” the minister said.
According to Neverovič, the regional partners maintained a constructive approach towards current discussions on the nuclear facility project.
“I definitely wouldn’t say [that their attention to the project is waning]. I would say that their approach [towards the project] is very pragmatic and specific, which is very good, for a project of such a scale, that we don’t follow emotions, that we are calculating, analysing, answering all questions. Such a constructive approach and talking, answering practical questions, is good,” the Energy Minister said.
He added that a study by Sweden’s consultancy Gothia Power on the connection of electricity grids with European networks had highlighted the need to further assess integration of a nuclear power facility into the system.
The commission, headed by Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, makes decisions on electricity production, synchronization and market functioning issues and will formulate proposals to the Baltic Council of Ministers’ Committee of Senior Officials.
The commission will prepare an action plan and by 1 May will submit proposals to the government regarding the establishment of a project company for the new nuclear power plant facility.
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