Atomic Policy in Latvia

Soviet Time

From 1940 to 1990 Latvia was a part of the Soviet Union thus its nuclear policy could not differ from the Soviet one.

In the 1950s Soviet government, following an initiative by Igor Kurchatov, a Soviet nuclear physicist who is widely known as the director of the Soviet atomic bomb project,decided to build 20 research reactors in different regions of the USSR and abroad.

Meanwhile physicists from the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences came up with a proposal to build a research reactor in Latvia. It was accepted and construction of „Salaspils Research Reactor“ (SRR) started. SRR was put in operation in 1961 and carried out neutron activation analysis, nuclear reaction research, researches in solid state radiation physics, radiochemistry and radiobiology. It is the only research reactor Latvia has ever had and the only civilian research reactor in the Baltics. SSR is located 2 km from the centre of Salaspils city and 25 km from Riga, the capital.

Since there are no nuclear power plants in Latvia, the country has a repository only for low and medium level radioactive waste. It is called „Radons“ and is located in Baldone, 5 km from the city of Baldone and 27 km from Riga, the capital. „Radons“ (in operation since 1962) is a near-surface repository for both burial and storage of low and medium level radioactive waste.

Independent State

Latvia is a country that considers nuclear power as one of energy sources - the country needs to import 20-30 % of electricity per year. It has no nuclear power plants and there are no plans to build them in Latvia, but the country is a stakeholder in the Visaginas NPP (LT) project.

The Government is pro-nuclear. Information available on the website of The Cabinet of Ministers states that "On Friday, December 2 [2011], Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius in conversation have confirmed that the Visagina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) will be economically viable and advantageous project for the people of the Baltic States." In March 2012 the Prime Ministers of all Baltic States met in Lithuania and "have reaffirmed their commitment to build the Visaginas power plant and have promised to work together to make sure progress is maintained". An article, available on the discussion page of the Ministry of Economics praises nuclear power and lists its (so-called) benefits.

It is difficult to assess the public opinion because, in my opinion, nuclear power is not among the major issues or concerns. People in Latvia mostly concentrate their attention on social welfare issues, economics and employment, not energetics. When it is about blogging, media appearance or communication with officials, anti-nuclear people seem to be louder. For instance, in February 2012 several Latvian environmental organizations wrote a letter to the Latvian Prime Minister expressing their negative opinion about this project. Also they asked for answers to several questions, for instance, how much this project will cost to Latvians, how participation in this project will conduce Latvian energo-independence, how the spent fuel will be stored and much will it cost.

However, an opinion poll "Whether or not Latvia should participate in the Visaginas project" (taken on July 3-5, 2012) showed that 45 % of respondents are supporting the project (13 % said "definitely yes", 32 % said "rather yes"), 37 % said "no" (15 % - "definitely no", 22 % "rather no"). 18 % had no opinion about this issue. But given that only 500 people participated in this opinion poll, it does not help to clarify the general public opinion.

SRR. The spend fuel was sent to Mayak in Russia in May 2008 within a bilateral governmental agreement.

Radons. The repository consists of 2 parts: supervision part and control area with 7 vaults. Only vault No.7 is still in use, all others are full. The Government plans to extend it but due to various reasons it has not happened yet.

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