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PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHRA #0807 3531328
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181328Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5494
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS RIGA 000807 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG TRGY BEXP BTIO LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA: NO PLANS FOR NUCLEAR POWER, EXCEPT IN LITHUANIA 
 
REF: STATE 127423 
 
¶1.  Latvia has no nuclear power plants, and no plans to develop 
nuclear power facilities within its own borders.   As Latvia 
explored its options for increasing its generation capacity in 
mid-2008, there was some speculation that a small nuclear power 
plant would be one potential solution.  Since then, that idea has 
largely been dismissed as unworkable.  There is essentially no 
existing expertise or industry for developing or operating a nuclear 
facility. 
 
¶2.  However, Latvia remains involved in the planning of the 
Visaginas (Ignalina) Nuclear Power Plant (VNPP) in Lithuania.  As 
one of four countries currently involved in the project, Latvia will 
presumably have some voice in planning decisions surrounding that 
facility, although Lithuania will be leading the project.  Assuming 
the project goes forward with Latvia as a partner, it would largely 
be a business transaction from the Latvian perspective.  Because the 
facility would be in Lithuania, there is little need for Latvia to 
develop a civilian nuclear regulatory framework or train a nuclear 
workforce.  There is not yet a plan for financing the project. 
 
¶3.  As a result, opportunities for U.S. industry would be limited to 
influencing Latvian decision-makers in their decisions about VNPP. 
The key contacts for these decisions are at the Ministry of Economy, 
including Minister Kaspars Gerhards, State Secretary Anrijs Matiss, 
and Head of Energy Division Ugis Sarma. 
 
Rogers