‘We expect that 2018, if work actually starts next year, is a probable date for completing the power plant,’ Kubilius said.
The plans for building a replacement reactor in partnership with Estonia, Latvia and Poland, have made utterly slow progress and speculation is increasing that one or more of the partners may come out of the project.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Latvian prime minister in May 2009, said the facility was unlikely to be ready until 2025.
And in March 2009, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus said a business plan would be ready by May 2009 and workers would start the construction by Autumn.
The closing of the Ignalina nuclear plant was part of the terms under which Lithuania joined the European Union in 2004.
The regional leaders are concerned, if once Ignalina closes, the region will become much more dependent on energy supplies from Russia.
