Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project
Considering the shutdown of Ignalina NPP planned in 2010, the Baltic States, in collaboration with Poland, are intensively working on the development of the future newly-built NPP project. Currently, the management representatives of the power companies involved in the project – Leo LT (Lithuania), Latvenergo (Latvia), Eesti Energia (Estonia) and PGE (Poland) – have been carrying on discussions on the new nuclear power plant construction.
On 18 January 2008, the parliament of Lithuania approved its new national power industry strategy, envisaging the new nuclear power plant (NPP) built and put into operation no later than by 2015. Latvia participates in the nuclear power plant construction project together with Lithuania, Estonia and Poland. Each of these states is going to receive a certain guaranteed part of the total electricity generated by the NPP.
Chronology of events
On 27 February 2006, in Trakai, Lithuania, the prime ministers of the Baltic States adopt a communiqué stating that the prime ministers “come to an agreement to involve the state-owned Baltic power industry sector companies Lietuvos energija, Latvenergo and Eesti Energia as participants on equal participation conditions in the design and construction of the new nuclear power plant in Lithuania; to observe the principle of unanimity among the participants if other companies are involved in the project”.
On 8 March 2006, the CEO’s of the Baltic State energy companies Lietuvos energija AB, Eesti Energia and Latvenergo AS undersign the Letter of Intent on preparation for the nuclear power plant construction in Lithuania.
On 24 May 2006, during the meeting of the CEO’s of the Baltic State energy companies Lietuvos energija AB, Eesti Energia and Latvenergo AS in Riga, at the regular session of the Ignalina NPP construction research project management committee, a resolution is passed to compose the Scientific Advisory Committee, whose main task is to issue its opinion on the reports submitted by the task groups.
On 8 December 2006, in Vilnius, the government leaders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland adopt a communiqué in which they “emphasise the significance of joining the electrical networks of Lithuania and Poland and encourage the initiation of expert consultations among the three companies specified in the announcement undersigned in Trakai on 27 February 2006 and a company specified by the government of Poland on collaboration opportunities for the construction and operation of the new nuclear power plant in Lithuania”.
On 9 January 2007, a meeting of the Baltic nuclear power plant (NPP) construction research project management committee takes place in Warsaw. During this meeting, the CEO’s of the three Baltic State energy companies Lietuvos energija AB, Eesti Energia and Latvenergo AS meet with the Polish company Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A., which is the company that the government of Poland delegated for consultations concerning the nuclear power plant feasibility study.
On 27 August 2008, Lithuania publishes “The Environmental Risk Assessment for the New Ignalina NPP Project”. The environmental risk assessment objective is to assess the environmental risks for a new NPP of the capacity of up to 3400 MW. The document evaluates different capacity options; however, it does not establish the specific permissible and potential capacity for the new NPP.
Kurzeme coal station project
To date, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the construction of an additional base load power plant in Kurzeme. The power plant’s basic resource will be coal. The station’s planned capacity is 400 MW.
The Institute of Physical Energetics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, choosing the optimal construction place for the power plant, has assessed different factors, such as the construction site location, property rights, ground condition, proximity of port and railway, transport and storage of slag, ash and CO2 release and others. Altogether three potential construction sites in Liepaja and one in Ventspils were considered.
Although initially the possibility of the construction of a gas power station was surmised in the public sphere, the minister of economy Kaspars Gerhards admitted that the recent oil price fluctuations in the global market, affecting the gas prices in turn, make one to decide in favour of the construction of a solid fuel power station in Kurzeme. The final decision on the location place of the station will be adopted by the investor coming to terms with the local government.
Latvenergo AS is going to assess its participation in the solid fuel power plant in Kurzeme.
Other projects of energy generation
Latvenergo AS is going to assess its participation in other potential energy generation projects, especially such projects that would envisage the use of renewable energy sources and could operate in the base load sector.
