Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Nuclear Issues: Lithuania to hold referendum on nuclear plant

Lithuania’s parliament voted yesterday to hold a non-binding referendum on extending the life of its Soviet-era nuclear power plant, despite a promise to the European Union that it will be shut down in 2009.

The parliamentary press service said 88 of 141 lawmakers had voted to hold the referendum on October 12, the same day as a general election. Five voted against and 11 abstained.

The first reactor at the Ignalina plant - of the same design as Ukraine’s Chernobyl facility, site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986 - was shut down in late 2004. The remaining reactor is due to be closed at the end of next year, as agreed with the EU during Lithuania’s accession negotiations. Lithuania joined the 27-nation bloc in 2004.

Analysts have warned that electricity prices could double after Ignalina’s shutdown, fuelling already double-digit inflation in Lithuania and slashing economic growth rates.
Lithuania is also concerned about increasing energy dependence on Russia.
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