Public hearings at LNPP-2

Andrey Gavrilin, Executive Director of the Union of Nuclear Power Territories and Enterprises

On Feb 7 2007 Sosnovy Bor will host public hearings of the materials on the possible ecological impacts and the future operation of Leningrad NPP-2. Two days before the hearings, Executive Director of the Union of Nuclear Power Territories and Enterprises Andrey Gavrilin presents his vision of the energy development prospects in the North-Western region.

“The forecasts of Rosatom and the Industry and Energy Ministry for 2020 show that, if the energy consumption continues to grow at the pace it is growing today, the North-Western region of Russia will need 15 GW – an amount the 4 new units will hardly be able to produce.

The decision on the construction of LNPP-2 is one way to solve the existing problem of energy shortfall. However, 4 new units will not be enough and, as far as I know, there are also other projects, including, gas power plants. Still, gas power plants are not a solution to the problem as gas prices will grow and electricity tariffs will follow suit. So, it is economically expedient to build new nuclear units. We should keep in mind that after 2015 the units of LNPP will be stopped and we should start planning new projects already now.