Poland considers nuclear power to reduce dependence on Russian energy

Poland is considering using nuclear energy to diversify its energy sources and reduce its dependence on Russian fuel, Economy Minister Piotr Wozniak said Friday.

No concrete proposals on the use of nuclear energy have been tabled, but the issue has gained added significance as Poland, largely dependent on Russian oil and gas, is increasingly concerned about Moscow's reliability as a source, Wozniak said.

"I think in a few years, we will have nuclear power, either from abroad, or generated domestically," he told reporters.

Poland has no nuclear plants, and Wozniak said he would seek public approval for any plans to introduce them.
"We don't want to do this against public opinion. We all remember Chernobyl," he said, referring to the world's worst nuclear accident when a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in neighboring Ukraine exploded and caught fire in April 1986.

Poland has said it may block a new EU-Russia partnership agreement if it does not include a call for Moscow to commit to supplying Russian gas and oil to Europe.

The EU has pushed Russia to ratify a charter, which would set up formal rules for dealing with energy transport and supply issues — to avoid a repetition of Russia's spat with Ukraine last winter that saw Moscow temporarily turn off Europe's gas supply.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will not ratify the charter in its current form.

Wozniak said Poland insisted particularly on Moscow guaranteeing access to transit routes from countries such as Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan.

"We feel very unsafe in terms of energy supplies," he said.

Poland disagrees with the majority of EU countries on how to deal with Russia's crucial energy supplies. It wants the bloc to take a hard line with Moscow, requiring more access for foreign investors and secure supplies for western European countries. The EU and Russia are due to hold a summit on Nov. 24.

At an October EU summit in Finland, Putin dodged EU demands to ratify the charter that would regulate transit and investment in the energy sector and allow for market competition between foreign and independent companies.
Source:iht.com