Navickas presented the Lithuania"s position on the extension of operation of Ignalina nuclear power plant and on other issues of energy security and its efficiency. The minister also expressed his views on climate change and the folio of energy measures as well as the promotion of the use of energy from renewable energy sources, writes ELTA.
The economy minister underlined that the creation of the joint EU energy market with the integration of isolated regions is the main priority for Lithuania and the best solution to the energy isolation related problems is further expansion of the regional cooperation with the gradual accession to the common EU market. The minister mentioned the project of three Baltic states and Poland to build a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania as well electricity links with Poland and Sweden as examples of regional cooperation.
However, according to the minister, the warranty for the reliable supply of electric energy to the region after the closure of the Unit Two of the Ignalina nuclear power plant till the opening of the new power plant remains a problem. Navickas stressed that the best solution would be to extend the work of the Ignalina power plant by 2009 till the new power plant is built or electricity links are made.
The minister also informed that the biggest energy saving potential in Lithuania lies in buildings sector – about 30%. He claims that modernisation of blocks of flats is one of energy saving examples.
(Source: The Baltic Course)
2 comments:
Seems very reasonable his proposal to me.
Just yesterday I read a European Union statement about how they wanted to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
--aa2
Ignalina is actually being closed more for political then for technical reasons - the plant still has a long term resource of operation. Closing Ignalina would mean the increasing dependence of Lithuania and the Baltic states in general on Russian energy sources. The EU itself is not energetically independent - most of their gas, some parts of petrol and electricity are imported from Russia. If we speak about energy independence, I see it reasonable to keep Ignalina in operation at least till the new plant of the same capacity will launch into commercial operation. Otherwise, the Baltics might just remain without electricity or even become more dependent on Russia - ongoing construction of a new plant in Kaliningrad (Russian piece of former Eastern Prussia) will end long before the planned Ignalina-2.
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