Worrying signs on Ignalina extension bid

2008-04-03
In cooperation with BNS

VILNIUS - The hoped-for extension of the lifespan of Lithuania's IgnalinaNuclear 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 EuropeanCommission's (EC) Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, was quoted expressing the opinion after a meeting with Lithuania's PrimeMinister Gediminas Kirkilas.

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

"We are not considering this aspect [the extension of operations of thesecond unit]. The legal aspect remains open. If the economic situation inLithuania is complicated, we will have to assess that in order to ensure thesecurity of energy supply. However, in our opinion, the extension ofoperations 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 forways out".

"I have not heard a statement that some topics are forbidden... I havenot heard that the question on the closure of Ignalina plant will not be putforward since I have been told that the legal situation is clear, in his[Ristori's] opinion, the extension of operations is not acceptable. This isnatural. 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 launchedwith the Commission "seem to be positive".

Lithuania agreed to close the second unit of INPP late in 2009 aspart of its pre-accession commitments. The first unit of the plant was shutdown 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.