Energy, Energy Market, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Interview, Latvia, Lithuania, Nuclear Power, Nuclear power plant

Viktor Shevaldin

The IAE head emphasizes that there has been no precedent for the four countries – Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland – in reaching an agreement on a project of a nuclear power plant. "Threesome or foursome is good for drinking vodka or playing cards. It is also possible to erect a power plant theoretically: you establish a company, reach an agreement at a table and work on friendly terms. However, if everything happens as in the Russian folktale "A Swan, a Crayfish and a Pike", then it is a meaningless affair, it is no good starting it," Shevaldin said.

According to him, the more there are partners, owners, the more interests, disagreements they have, which might destroy the business. It is much easier when there is a specific contracting party who will be the future owner and take the entire responsibility concerning terms, quality, financing and operation. Shevaldin says that it is a political question whether Lithuania needs the new power plant or it would be sufficient to resort to solar, wind, water energy and other power stations. According to him, no wind or solar energy would ensure such capacity that is needed by Lithuanian consumers – 1,500-2,000 MW. Thousands of wind power stations would be needed to reach such capacity. What will happen if there is no wind? The nation will have no electricity. Energy from the sun, wind and water is a great idea, but so far it has provided electricity of low capacity.

"Thus, everything will depend on the Government's political will and a feasibility study. There would be less worry if the state had enough power capacity for its own needs and exports as well. It is most likely that nothing will be built by 2010 as there are only three months left. We will stop the second unit of the IAE which is the main provider of electricity as it produces 70-80% of electricity in the whole country. The capacity of Elektrenai, Vilnius and Kaunas plants will be increased, Lithuania will produce around 50% of electricity in its old plants by using Russian gas and it will have to buy the remaining part of electricity abroad, actually from Russia as well, because we have no energy ties and links with the West," the head of the Ignalina nuclear power plant said.