Kaliningrad nuclear power plant threat to Poland's energy security?

Image: glowimages.com

The Centre for Eastern Studies, which functions in tandem with Poland's Ministry of the Economy, claims in a report that the Russian nuclear plant currently under construction is a threat to the energy security of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

“Therefore, for the nations in this region, the most important question is to focus on building up their own security,” the report reflects.

“Of particular significance would be Poland and Lithuania's focus on realising their own nuclear power plant construction projects,” the report specified.

The foundation stone of Russia's Kaliningrad Nuclear Power Plant (sometimes referred to as the Baltic Nuclear Power Plant) was laid in February 2010.

Russia aims to export the majority of the energy to EU countries.

However, the Polish government is already engaged in a campaign to be less dependent on Russian energy, investigating its shale gas reserves, and indeed championing construction of a nuclear power plant.

A short-list of potential sites for the Polish plant was presented in November 2011, although the ultimate location has not been confirmed.

The three prospective locations are all near the Baltic Sea – in Mielno, Zarnowiec and Choczewo, although the government faces potential stumbling blocks in winning over public opinion.

The Polish government hopes that the plant will be built by 2023. (nh/pg)