Seimas passes nuclear bill

VILNIUS 's The construction of a new nuclearpower plant at Ignalina has moved one stage closer after the LithuanianSeimas passed legislation Feb. 2 which should smooth the way for an agreementbetween the government and privately owned NDX Energija regarding the creationof a new 'national investor' company, Leo LT.

The company will be responsible for the contruction of the new nuclearfacility, plus power links to Poland and Sweden.

63 MPs voted in favor of the amendments, 11 voted against and threeabstained. The vote was boycotted by opposition parties who claim thelegislation has been rushed through without due process and stands to make afew leading businessmen extremely rich.

Only a presidential veto can now prevent the legislation coming into force,but given President Valdaas Adamkus' own enthusiasm for the plan, this seems afolorn hope for the opposition.

Nevertheless, Conservative Party leader Andrius Kubilius is calling onAdamkus to veto the legislation when it passes across his desk.

"The negotiations were not transparent, and the government has failedin defending public interest," Kubilius said in a Feb. 4 press conference.

He added that the bill is flawed and was passed without presenting detailedcosts of both construction and the energy that the new plant will produce.

According to the bill, the government will control 61.7 percent of Leo NTwith NDX Energija controlling the remaining 38.3 percent.

The new company would incorporate the shares of state-owned LietuvosEnergija and distribution grid operator Rytu Skirstomieji Tinklai (RST) as wellas Vakaru Skirstomieji Tinklai (VST), owned by NDX Energy, instantly creatingone of the largest commercial concerns in the Baltic states.

The timing of the Seimas vote came as a welcome coincidence for President Adamkus,who met with his Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski on the day the bill wasapproved, with energy topping the informal agenda discussed by the two men.

Next up to the plate are the region's Economy Ministers, meeting in VilniusFeb. 4 to discuss their proposed roles in the Ignalina project.