Honorata Nyga-Lukaszewska, energy expert, Climate Change and Energy Program at the Center for International Relations, Poland

— Nowadays Poland is demonstrating interest towards nuclear energy development

Nowadays Poland is demonstrating interest towards nuclear energy development which is in line with nuclear renaissance in other European Union member-countries. According to the “Polish Energy Strategy 2030” nuclear energy will be an important source of energy for Poland in the future. Though, currently there is no nuclear component in the primary energy balance. Poland’s large coal reserves play a pivotal role in the process of enhancing the country’s energy security. Nevertheless, rising demand for energy and plausible energy deficit will require new energy sources. That would be covered in a multidimensional way. The most important tool in overcoming energy deficit will be a process of new electricity generation capacity building. Other solutions will include: improvement of energy management and further inclusion of nuclear and renewables to energy mix. Electricity import is not excluded. One of such projects effecting electricity markets is the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan. The plan is aimed at putting an end to energy isolation of Baltic states. Increased interconnection capacity, will significantly enhance security of electricity supply in the region. Furthermore, the creation of such a market will bring along competition, that may encourage countries and companies to an efficient resource management.

Incorporation of nuclear component in an energy mix is a challenge for every country. Poland is considering projects on building nuclear power plant. Poland is currently creating a legal framework for the nuclear energy deployment as well as it is in a process of public consultations. The number of people supporting nuclear option significantly increased (from 32% to 61% between 1989 – 2006. Reduction of GHG emissions and decrease of probable import dependency in the future were the driving forces of such a high public acceptance level. It is planned that between 2020 and 2030 nuclear component contribution to the primary energy balance will soar to nearly 10% , achieving at the same time forecasted share of renewables in the respected period.

To remind, in late 2009 Lithuania will fulfill the EU’s requirement and will shut down its Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Chairman of the State Committee on Prices and Control in Energy Sector Virgilijus Poderys says that after the shut-down of Ignalina the electricity price in Lithuania will grow by 30%. The country will be forced to import half of its energy from abroad. Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Estonia have said that they will jointly build a new Ignalina NPP but cannot yet agree on their shares in the project. Now Estonia and Poland have said that they will build their own NPPs but the global crisis can mar their plans.

In its turn, Russia is planning to build Baltic Nuclear Power Plant in Kaliningrad region. 51% of the project will belong to the state, 41% to private investors.