Irina Tsurina, head of Analytical Department of PRopaganda Center of Communication Technologies

– The construction of Baltic NPP will pave the way for future development

Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation has confirmed that it has sufficient financial capacities to start the construction of Baltic NPP (Kaliningrad region) in 2010, Minister of Energy of Russia Sergey Shmatko said during a briefing after a conference on energy security held in Kaliningrad on June 6 2009. Governor of Kaliningrad region Georgy Boos said that Rosatom and the Government of the region have agreed that the 1st unit of the plant will be launched in 2016, the 2nd in 2018. “Nobody doubts that the plant will be commissioned in time, in 2016,” he said.

The participation of the Energy Minister in the discussion of the plans to build Baltic Nuclear Power Plant in Kaliningrad region proves that the Government has not dismissed this project because of the crisis but, on the contrary, regards it as an effective anti-crisis measure. Today, many people say that we must rely on high-tech and infrastructure projects as they will create jobs and pave the way for future growth. However, we have not seen any such project started so far.

The construction of Baltic NPP may become such a project. It is obvious that Kaliningrad region will face heavy energy shortages after the crisis. The Baltic states will get into energy crisis even earlier following the shutdown of Ignalina NPP. So, Kaliningrad region may become an exporter of electricity. NPP will significantly enhance its investment appeal. 

I hope that the plans to build a nuclear power plant in Kaliningrad region are entering a new stage – practical realization – which is proved by the involvement of the Energy Ministry in this project.