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

– NPP construction is a serious competitive advantage for any region

Public hearings on the Baltic NPP project will take place in Neman, Kaliningrad region, on July 24 2009.

The construction of a nuclear power plant is a serious competitive advantage for any region. Such projects boost economic growth, improve investment appeal and increase budgetary revenues. Usually, the share of a nuclear power plant in the local budget is 30%, like in Smolensk region or Tver region, where Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant pays 1.7bln RUR each year. These figures are not dropping despite the crisis. On the contrary, in Jan-Apr 2009 Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant paid 521.5mln RUR in taxes (5% more than in Jan-Apr 2008). Half of this sum was transferred to the budget of Leningrad region and 18% to the local budget.

In the face of crisis NPP construction may stimulate a whole chain of productions and will create lots of new jobs.

We should not forget that sooner or later the economy will revive and we will need even more energy. And only regions having one will be able to carry out big investment projects and develop their industries.

The 1st unit of Baltic NPP is supposed to be launched in 2016.