Tomasz Zylicz, Professor of Economics and Dean, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw, Poland

— If there is an economically viable project to build nuclear power plant in the Kaliningrad region, then it should be given consideration

Poland is interested in developing nuclear energy. The reason lies in the necessity to invest in new capacities in order to substitute for the worn-out coal fired plants and the necessity to lower the country’s carbon intensity of the energy sector.

After the Ignalina NPP shutdown in December, 2009, Poland may need to look for other sources of electricity supplies. If there is an economically viable project to build nuclear power plant in the Kaliningrad region, then it should be given consideration.

While taking a decision on whether to import electricity from abroad, the Polish government should take into account that electricity imported from an EU country is subject to different regulations than the electricity from a non-EU country. Therefore, the so-called energy safety may be different in both cases. Anyway whether a contemplated NPP in the Kaliningrad region becomes a secure source of electricity for the Baltic states, it depends on Russian enterprises’ willingness and ability to comply with the principles of the EU energy policy. In member states these are taken for granted. Outside the EU they are a matter of inquiry.