|
Nuclear Power Plant Project in Lithuania is Feasible
2006-10-25
Today, 25 October, in Vilnius, the final Steering Committee with participation of the management of the three energy companies met to approve the results of the feasibility study for construction of the new nuclear power plant in Lithuania.
The goals of the feasibility study, which lasted for 6 months, was to assess the feasibility of constructing the plant taking into account economic, technological, financial as well as legal environments of Baltic countries and EU. According to the study, it is feasible to build a new nuclear power plant taking into consideration all above mentioned points.
“Today has officially ended the feasibility study of constructing a new possible nuclear plant and now the presentation of the results will be delivered to the parliaments of the three Baltic countries as well as to the wider public” said the general director of Lietuvos Energija Rymantas Juozaitis.
From a technical standpoint, the study of available reactor technologies shows that there is a satisfactory range of proven reactors that would be suitable for use and that would meet prevailing international safety standards. Initial assessment reveals that the current Ignalina site is suitable for developing a new reactor. The study also shows that the current transmission grid would be able to cope with the new power plant with only very manageable reinforcement and adaptation. It indicates that short term storage of spent fuel would continue as for Ignalina, that long term storage options for existing and future spent fuel are to be developed in the context of EU-led initiatives.
The CEO of Latvenergo Karlis Mikelsons said it allows maintaining the current mix of fuels used in Baltic electricity systems and thus maintaining a diversified generation structure. “It is crucial that after the closure of nuclear plant we have enough production capacities to provide electricity supply to our customers” said Mikelsons. “We should not underestimate other advantages of nuclear energy. For example, good accessibility of a fuel and meeting Kyoto targets for CO2 emissions,” added Mikelsons.
According to the feasibility study the possible investments would be 2.5-4 milliards EUR and would depend on chosen reactor types and a number of units.
“The completion of the study and the possible results do not mean that investment decision is already made,” commented the completed feasibility study the CEO of Eesti Energia Sandor Liive. “Before we are ready to fully acknowledge that we invest into the new nuclear power plant a lot of things have to be done, from negotiations to the launch of a tender,” explained further steps Liive.
The summary report for feasibility study of constructing a new nuclear plant will be presented to the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in November this year.
The half-year-long study has been conducted subject to memorandum, signed by three power companies on March 8, this year. The parties in the project participated under equal conditions, with Steering Committee established for general management and supervision and local scientists and international consulting agencies like Dresdner Kleinwort, Freshfields and Colenco Power Engineering involved.
Aurelija Trakseliene, Public Relations Officer Summarising Feasibility Study of Constructing a New Nuclear Plant in Lithuania  Summary Report for Media.pdf (114.1 Kb)
|
