Worrying signs on Ignalina extension bid

Apr 03, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

VILNIUS - The hoped-for extension of the lifespan of Lithuania's Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) was dealt a blow April 4 when a senior Eurocrat claimed such a move would be unsuitable.

Dominique Ristori, Deputy Director General of the European Commission's (EC) Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, was quoted expressing the opinion after a meeting with Lithuania's Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas.

Ristori reiterated several times that Lithuania had assumed a legal obligation to shut the INPP down by the end of 2009.

"We are not considering this aspect [the extension of operations of the second unit]. The legal aspect remains open. If the economic situation inLithuania is complicated, we will have to assess that in order to ensure the security of energy supply. However, in our opinion, the extension of operations of the second unit of Ignalina plant is not a suitable option," Ristori told reporters after Thursday's meeting with 

Aleksandras Abisala, the man tasked with winning support for an extension in Brussels and beyond said that the legal issue of INPP was complicated. However,Lithuania did not intend to breach the agreements, and we "need to look for ways out".

"I have not heard a statement that some topics are forbidden... I have not heard that the question on the closure of Ignalina plant will not be put forward since I have been told that the legal situation is clear, in his [Ristori's] opinion, the extension of operations is not acceptable. This is natural. But I have not heard that this question is taboo," Abisala said.

Kirkilas would not comment. Later, however, he said at the Parliament that the initial consultations launched with the Commission "seem to be positive".

Lithuania agreed to close the second unit of INPP late in 2009 as part of its pre-accession commitments. The first unit of the plant was shut down on Dec. 31, 2004. However, now the Lithuanian government is worries that if Ignalina closes, the country will be left with a severe energy shortage that could only be rectified by means of complete reliance on Russian gas imports.

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