VILNIUS -- Ecological concerns may become one of the arguments employed by Lithuania when it bids for an extension to the lifespan of the Ignalina Atomic Energy Plant, Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas says.
The prime minister noted that Lithuania has decreased its carbon dioxide emission by 67 percent since 1990; however, further reduction of pollution would become complicated after closing the plant.
"In the case of completely closing the plant in 2009, we will be forced to use precisely the type of energy that increases carbon dioxide emissions. It is a problem for us, and I think that at this time, when Europe is taking up leadership in the front of fighting climate change and plans to make higher demands yet than were formulated regarding reduction of CO2 emission, a better juncture is created for discussing the extended operation of the second block of the Ignalina plant. This way we would not increase gas use," the prime minister told the Baltic News Service.
Kirkilas expressed similar sentiments at a Nordic and Baltic prime ministers' summit in Oslo on Monday.
European energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs has repeatedly denied that Lithuania will be allowed to keep Ignalina open past the agreed 2009 shut-off date. However, pressure seems to be mounting within Lithuania to keep Ignalina operational in order to avoid damaging the economy during the years until a replacement nuclear plant can be brought online.
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