VILNIUS - The European Commissioner for energy policy, Andris Piebalgs, said he is leaving open the possibility of building a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania.
Meeting with Bronislovas Lubys, president of Lithuania's Confederation of Industrialists, he said that the feasibility of the project would largely depend on the initiative of private investors.
Piebalgs, who hails from Latvia, reiterated that the country was obliged to follow its commitments assumed under the EU accession treaty and had to close the existing plant in 2009.
While discussing the challenges and the outlook for the energy sector in Lithuania and the Baltic countries, Piebalgs took note of the idea of building a power bridge between Lithuania and Poland. The bridge would justify the construction of new nuclear power plant, as it would open new possibilities for the sale of electricity, the commissioner said.
The commission adhered to the opinion that the project might be financed with EU funds to some extent, Piebalgs noted.
Meeting participants also discussed the issue of natural gas supply to Lithuania and measures needed to encourage the use of renewable energy resources.
