Daily: Poland May Replace Estonia in Visaginas Project
If Estonia were to drop out of the Visaginas nuclear power plant project, Poland may fill the niche, Lithuanian officials are hoping.
Although Estonian officials have said they are still interested in the project, doubts have been raised, according to the Lithuanian business paper Verslo Žinios.
"Estonians are demonstrating an increasingly cautious approach to the Visaginas nuclear power plant project and have guaranteed that they will take part in its realization. For that reason, Lithuanian politicians have been increasingly active in looking in the direction of Poland. They are trying to convince Poland to return to the nuclear power project," the newspaper wrote.
Ansip said at a press conference last week that Estonia could only get on board with Lithuania's nuclear power plant project if a new referendum in that country endorses it.
"Of course we are interested in going forward with the Visaginas project, but unfortunately two-thirds of the population gave a clear 'no' in the referendum held in Lithuania [last year]," Ansip said.
"First the Lithuanians must decide whether they want it or not. Only a new referendum can change the previous standpoint."
If built, the proposed nuclear power plant would be situated at the site of the closed Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, which was shut down in 2009 to meet EU requirements.
A strategic plan was approved by the Lithuanian cabinet last year, allocating Lithuania a stake of 38 percent, Estonia 22 percent and Latvia 20 percent. The rest would be contributed by the Japanese-American strategic investor Hitachi. Construction of the power plant was set to start in 2015 at the earliest.