PM: Latvia still interested in implementation of Visaginas NPP project

RIGA - A new government is being formed in Lithuania at this time, and it would be too soon to predict what it will do, nevertheless, Latvia is still interested in the development of the Visaginas nuclear power plant (NPP) project, Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity) said, in commenting on the results of the consultative referendum in Lithuania, where 60 percent of voters voted against the NPP.

According to Dombrovskis, Latvia is currently waiting for the regional partners' reaction to the referendum results, as the State Chancellery representative Diana Germane told LETA.

"During the referendum in Lithuania on Sunday, the nation voted against the construction of a new NPP. Even though the result is not legally binding, we can expect it to hamper implementation of the Visaginas project. But - the final decision will still have to be made by the Lithuanian government," said Dombrovskis.

At the same time, Latvia's position remains unchanged - economic benefit and competitiveness of Visaginas NPP electricity on the "Nord Pool Spot" market are the main preconditions for construction of the new power plant, stressed Dombrovskis.

As reported, 62.7 percent of voters cast "No" ballots in the referendum, based on data from 1,767 out of 2,017 polling stations, while almost 34 percent backed the plan. Despite placing no legal obligation on the government, the result throws new doubt on an already-sluggish project because the referendum was held in tandem with a general election, topped by left-wing parties faulting the project.