Latvia: public debate on a new nuclear plant

A conference "New Ignalina ? benefits and dangers" was organized by state owned enterprise "Vides projekti" in cooperation with Riga City Council Environment Committee and Latvian Environment Protection fund. The aim of the conference "New Ignalina ? benefits and dangers" was to start a public debate on possibility of building a new nuclear plant in the Baltic region ? to talk over benefits and dangers, economical aspects, influence on environment and people?s health and also alternatives of the project. It is very important to encourage public discussion about the particular issue in the society right now, because building a new nuclear plant may impact any inhabitant of Latvia. Many local and foreign experts from Belarus, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Russia took part in the conference. Latvian and foreign specialists of environment, medicine and economics were involved in the public discussion about pluses and minuses of constructing a new nuclear plant in Baltic region. Experts talked over actuality of the topic in Latvia, situation of energy system in Europe and Latvia (in the context of building a new nuclear plant) and state energy system?s independence from neighboring countries. Building a new nuclear plant became a live issue when Lithuania joined European Union. According to the EU accession arrangements for Lithuania, the nuclear plant facilities operating today at Ignalina will have to be closed down, causing a major shift in the electrical demand-supply balance for electricity not only in Lithuania but also in the integrated Baltic electrical system, including Estonia and Latvia. More info at www.videsprojekti.lv