Vagif Guseynov, director of Institute for Strategic Analysis, chief editor of Vestnik Analitiki magazine

– The growing attention to nuclear energy projects is due to the impending crisis on the oil and gas market

Last week two countries said that they were going to develop nuclear energy. Croatian Nuclear Society (HND) says that by 2020 Croatia should build a nuclear reactor. Energy shortfalls, unstable supplies, high prices will be the factors that will force small countries to start developing nuclear energy. During a forum on nuclear energy in Prague Prime Minister of Estonia Andrus Ansip said that the development of nuclear energy helps to enhance the energy security of the European Union. That’s why Estonia advocates its development.

The growing attention to nuclear energy projects is due to the impending crisis on the oil and gas market. The unprecedented growth of the oil and gas prices is forcing the consumers to search for substitutes and they are turning their faces towards alternative sources – from nuclear and bio energy — with preference given to nuclear energy especially in the European Union. The point is that Europe is restricted in its choice of alternative energy sources due to limited areas and low efficiency of existing projects.