Valentin Ivanov, State Duma deputy, member of SD Committee on Energy, Transport and Communication

– The construction of LNPP-2 is an ecologically safe project

On Feb 7 Sosnovy Bor (Leningrad region) will host public hearings of the materials on the ecological impacts of the construction and the operation of LNPP-2. A day before the hearings State Duma deputy, member of SD Committee on Energy, Transport and Communication Valentin Ivanov commented on the prospects of energy development in the North-West.

LNPP-1 has already fulfilled its mission and has made a great contribution to the development of the industry of the North-Western region. But now the whole region, especially St. Petersburg, is running increasingly short of electricity. They are trying to cover the shortfall by means of gas power plants but gas prices are quickly growing and by 2010 we will have the same gas prices as in Europe.

It is certainly a right decision to build LNPP-2 under the NPP-2006 project. In 12–15 we will have to stop RBMK units. So, we should start replacing them already now so as to avoid using expensive gas or ecologically unclean coal. In my opinion, LNPP-2 is an ecologically safe project.

Can the North-West develop without energy? They in the region are going to build a highway between St. Petersburg and Moscow; they have serious projects for port development; the development of the Shtokmanovsky gas deposit will require gas liquefying plants — and all this will require basic energy capacities. Of course, nuclear energy is not the only type of energy we should develop, but it is certainly the most profitable and effective type of energy for the moment.

The LNPP-2 project is opening up quite good opportunities for the satellite of St. Petersburg and 60-year development prospects.