Support for nuclear power plant

TALLINN- It was announced that most local governments would support being a potential location of Estonia's own nuclear power plant.  

The local authorities of Sillamae, Kohtla-Jarve, Toila, Vaivara and Paldiski said they support the construction of a nuclear power plant in their municipalities.

However, two municipalities, Noarootsi in the western Laanemaa County and Viru-Nigula in the northeastern Laane-Virumaa, were against the idea.

"Building a nuclear power plant in our municipality would be positive, because the construction would create new jobs and life in the municipality would develop faster," the leader of Toila, Tiit Salvan, said. "Oil shale energy destroys our living environment and the nuclear power plant would help stop the advance of mines and ash fields."

The Vaivara mayor, Veikko Luhalaid, said that he is in favor of nuclear power plant construction, but noted that a dialogue with local residents on the issue would have to be started at as early a stage as possible.

The city of Sillamae would be happy with a nuclear power plant in both the neighboring Toila as well as in Vaivara. "We have many specialists with experience of working with uranium here," Mayor Ain Kiviorg said. Heat and electricity at a good price would in his words be an argument in support of a nuclear power plant.

"I don't think a nuclear power plant hereabouts will meet with opposition, because everybody would be delighted with the development of the backward region," Deputy Mayor of Kohtla-Jarve Juri Kollo said.