&host=www.rt.com&uri=/news/lithuania-ignalina-nuclear-protest/comments/&via=1.1 204.160.105.133:80 (Footprint 4.8/FPMCP)&ua=CCBot/1.0 (+http://www.commoncrawl.org/bot.html))
Lithuania gets electric shock after nuclear plant closed
Published: 22 March, 2010, 09:20
Edited: 23 March, 2010, 02:48
The closure of Lithuania’s soviet-built Ignalina nuclear power plant last year has devastated the local population and its economy as energy bills have soared.
Actually, the Chernobyl plant was made up of several RBMK 1000s, while Ignalina was made up of RBMK 1500s, larger, and actually a bit safer, save for lack of containment. The EU deemed the plant safe, as they allowed it to operate for 6 years after accession. The real shock is how small-time oligarchs postponed the construction of a new reactor just to line their pockets.
2Mike: and how the closure of the plant under the old CEO was incompetent/corrupt. European billions are gone, but nothing is done- now prosecutors are moving in to investigate the "work" of the old staff (that are from the same town that is suffering now - Visaginas). By the way, article seams just a bit missleading here: "Electricity prices rose by 20%, hot water has increased twofold, and heating by five". From the text, it seams these are the price increaces all over the country- while really the jump of hot water and heating prices is such only in Visaginas, which must have used cheap heat from the plant before.
Yes, it’s fairly unsporting of Lithuania and the EU to close down the Ignalia power station just because its twin in Chernobyl melted down and polluted two thirds of Europe. Apparently the design is perfectly safe because Russia continues to operate others of them.