Polish government 'accepts' anti-nuclear power referendum result

photo - PAP/Adam Warzawa

Residents of the seaside resort of Mielno voted overwhelmingly against the project in Sunday's referendum, with 94 percent of those who turned out opposing the construction of the power plant in the village of Gaski, which is a part of the municipality.

Minister Mikolaj Budzanowski told the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily that the government "should respect" the referendum result but stressed that "Gaski is not the only location that is being considered."

Poland plans to get a nuclear power plant online by 2020 in an attempt to lower its reliance on Russian oil and gas and to stay in line with EU targets for low-carbon energy supplies.

In late November 2011, the government unveiled the final short-list for the plant's location, including two other Baltic sites, Choczewo and Zarnowiec.

Budzanowski said on Tuesday that "what's important" is that "both the residents and the authorities" of Zarnowiec "are declaring their support for this project."

He added that the final decision would be taken in two years time, following environmental studies and dialogue with residents.

The minister pointed out that similar facilities operate in neighbouring countries, and that just over the border in Russian-ruled Kaliningrad, a power plant is just about to be opened.

In 1982, during the Communist era, a decree was passed by the Polish parliament approving Zarnowiec as the site for a nuclear plant.

However, although construction began, the project was thrown into jeopardy by Ukraine's Chernobyl disaster in 1986. When the communist regime fell in Poland in 1989, construction fell by the wayside. (nh/pg)