1/3 of residents of Kaliningrad region support construction of NPP

16.04.2008 // GTRK Kaliningrad

1/3 of residents of Kaliningrad region support construction of NPP

Each third resident of Kaliningrad supports the construction of a nuclear power plant in the region, say the result of a survey carried out by Kaliningrad Sociological Center among over 1,000 residents of Kaliningrad region.

Most of the questioned said that energy crisis was a topical problem for the region. Half of them admit that the region is short of energy. Over ¼ are sure that things will get worse in the coming years.

Almost 1/3 of the residents of Kaliningrad support the construction of an NPP in the region, 31% give preference to NPP.

32% say that the use of nuclear energy is one of the best ways to ensure energy stability in the region.

The survey has shown that people are gradually overcoming the syndrome of Chernobyl. Twice as many people expressed support for the peaceful use of nuclear energy as compared with Apr 2007.

The deputy director of the Kaliningrad Sociological Center, Valery Boykov says: “Ignalina NPP will be shut down, the gas prices are growing, the TPP-2 project is not very much welcome. As a result, people are concerned that they may run short of energy and are beginning to realize that nuclear energy will give them independence and economy.” “Today, the residents of the exclave are beginning to understand that, even though they are situated in the “European nuclear ring,” they get nothing from nuclear energy and they must urgently find sources of cheap energy.”