Ignalina

Lithaunia nuclear project smaller than planned

Thursday, September 18, 2008

VILNIUS, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The company leading work on Lithuania's new $10 billion nuclear power station said on Thursday it would target capacity of 2,200 megawatts, lower than originally forecast.

A draft environmental impact study said the plant could be built to generate up to 3,200-3,400 MW, accommodating the demands of project partners Poland, Latvia and Estonia, all keen to lessen their dependence on Russian energy supplies.

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Lithuanian hope for nuclear extension dashed by EU

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

BRUSSELS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Lithuania's hopes of being allowed to extend the life of its Ignalina nuclear power plant were dashed on Wednesday by the European Commission.

In its treaty on joining the European Union in 2004, Lithuania promised to shut by the end of 2009 the second reactor at the plant, which is similar to Ukraine's Chernobyl facility where the world's worst nuclear disaster struck in 1986.

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Ergma: Estonia should build nuclear plant

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

TALLINN - Estonian Parliamentary Speaker Ene Ergma has urged the legislature to consider the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country.

At the first meeting of the autumn session, the speaker said that the country needed a new power source in response to Russia’s use of energy supplies as a political tool.

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Poland needs 1,500-2,000 MW a year of new power

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

WARSAW, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Poland needs to build between 1,500 and 2,000 megawatts a year of new power capacity to keep up with growing demand, an adviser to the economy minister said on Wednesday.
The country, which needs to increase capacity quickly to make up for years of abandoning investments and plant renovations, would be interested in building natural-gas fired plants, Joanna Strzelec-Lobodzinska said.
"The estimates show Poland needs to create between 1,500 and 2,000 MW in new capacities to keep up with growing demand and replace outdated technologies," Lobodzinska told reporters.

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Belarus offers Lithuania power from future nuclear plant: PM

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

(DRUSKININKAI) - Belarus plans to build a new nuclear power plant by 2015 that could possibly export energy to neighbour Lithuanuia, Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky said Tuesday in Lithuania.

"We are going to build the first block by 2015. We spoke with Lithuanian energy specialists about the possibility of supplying part of the electricity produced in this power plant to Lithuania," said Sidorsky after talks with Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas in Lithuania's resort town of Druskininkai, near the Belarus border.

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Experts doubt capacity of the new Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

It is not yet clear whether the planned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant will have sufficient capacity to meet the needs of all four partner countries.

Eesti Päevaleht writes that the limiting factor is the opposition of local residents to the project and the volume of cooling water that can be extracted from Lake Druksiai.

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Ignalina AE stops operating due to repair

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The main Lithuania"s electricity producer Ignalina nuclear power plant (AE) is stopped for a two-month scheduled repair. One generator of Ignalina AE second block will be stopped on July 29, and the entire block – on August 2.

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Baltic, Polish cos agree atomic development venture

Thursday, July 24, 2008

VILNIUS, July 25 (Reuters) - Energy companies in the three Baltic states and Poland agreed on Friday to set up a joint venture to develop a nuclear power plant in Lithuania, the Lithuanian partner said.
The four countries have been negotiatng on the project for months and hammered out a deal on Friday in Copenhagen.

"The partners have agreed to Lithuania's proposal to establish a joint project development company, in which LEO LT would hold a 51 percent stake," Lithuania's LEO LT said in a statement after a meeting.
Lithuania has said it wants to build a 3,200-3,400 megawatt nuclear power plant to replace its Soviet-era Ignalina nuclear facility, due to be shut down at the end of next year.

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Ignalina nuclear power plant asks permission to increase price on electricity

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

At present, Ignalina nuclear power plant buys the nuclear fuel for about 80% higher price than over the previous year. Network distribution companies are also preparing plans for raising prices. Ignalina nuclear power plant intends to present the request to the State Control Commission for Prices and Energy until October 2008 on the increase of the sale price for the produced electricity.

"We will ask to increase prices because of the price growth for nuclear fuel – this is our main argument, and of course, inflation. Currently I cannot say what exactly will be the increase of price we will ask for but there are no doubts that we will ask," Director of Ignalina nuclear power plant Viktoras Sevaldinas spoke for the daily Respublika about new predicted prices.

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Lithuania plans referendum on nuclear plant

Monday, July 14, 2008

VILNIUS, July 14 (Reuters) - Lithuania's parliament voted on Monday 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 Oct. 12, the same day as a general election. Five voted against and 11 abstained.

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