Andrzej Bobinski, program coordinator of the Center for International Relations (Poland)

– If Poland is offered a chance to finance the Baltic NPP project and to profit from it, its participation will make sense

The joint project of the Baltic states and Poland to build a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania is stalling, Chairman of the Management Board of Latvenergo Karlis Mikelsons said in an interview to the Latvian Radio. He said that in 2006 the prime ministers of the Baltic states and, later, Poland signed a memorandum for the construction of a new NPP in Lithuania. “If in the technical aspects and the licensing procedures I see certain motion, in terms of quality I see no progress at all and I am rather skeptical about the future of this project. Time is passing and we have done nothing to get it going: we have not passed any political decision, nor have we concluded contracts with relevant companies. So, I think this project needs longer deadlines. We must not relax though. I am sure that this project will be carried out but its forms and terms depend on a number of factors, particularly, on the decision of our parliament.” Mikelsons said that it would be just a speculation to say when exactly the plant would be built. In any case, this project will not be finished earlier than 2020.

Irrespective of the new Ignalina NPP project — which will hardly be built in the near future — Poland will most probably include nuclear power in its energy basket. One of the key reasons is the necessity to harmonize the Polish laws with the European climatic and energy standards, i.e. to reduce the emission of CO2. Experts say that diversification of energy sources is a necessity. Poland may need nuclear energy even though it has no specific projects for the moment.

If a neighboring country, say, Russia, offers electricity at a competitive and fair price and on transparent terms, Poland will buy it. As regards the possibility of Poland’s financial participation in the construction of Baltic Nuclear Power Plant in Russia’s Kaliningrad region, it is hard to make any forecasts for the moment. It will be possible to say something in particular only when relevant negotiations are held. In any case, if Poland is offered a good and fair way to finance this project and to profit from it – in terms of both economy and energy – its participation will make sense. But as long as no specific agreement is reached, it is impossible to say what decision will be made.