Russia is planning to build a nuclear power plant in its westernmost region of Kaliningrad. The cost of the project is estimated at 5 billion euros.

Squeezed between Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad region has no major power generating facilities of its own capable of meeting its growing demand for electricity. One-third of electricity consumed by the region’s fast-developing economy comes from the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania.

Konstantin Simonov, General Director of the National Energy Security Fund, said the new NPP will fully provide for Kaliningrad’s domestic demand and create a surplus of electricity which can be exported.

“We realize that the planned shutdown of the Ignalina power plant will cause a power deficit that will have to be replenished. It’s quite logical on our part to think of potential electricity exports to the Baltic countries and other European markets. Export opportunities are fairly good.”

After shutting the Ignalina NPP, Lithuania intends to build another one, possibly in cooperation with Poland. No timing framework for this project has been proposed so far.

As for the future NPP in Kaliningrad, Mr. Simonov said it is a purely commercial project with no political agenda. It would be unrealistic to expect the region’s authorities not to look for ways of covering the power deficit that would inevitably arise from the implementation of EU projects. Attempts by some Lithuanian politicians to present the move as a tactic to undermine European energy security are nothing other than speculation.