CONFERENCE
Latvia is represented in the BRILLIANT Initiative by the UL with its structural units and the Institute of Physics in particular. Other project partners include: Polish Nuclear Research Centre, Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Lithuanian Physics and Technology Centre, General Electric Hitachi and Oskarshamn NOVA Technology Centre (Sweden).
The project is part of the EURATOM atom-splitting programmes financed with EU grants. The goal is to develop cooperation among Baltic Sea region countries for research and infrastructure, to maximise the macroeconomic effect of Europe’s new reactor building programmes on regional economies, and research the nuclear fuel cycle and energy use in electricity-producing systems of small countries. This issue has become relevant especially in light of the rapid restarting of nuclear energy development in Europe and Europe’s energy independence.
Decisions are being made on the building of new nuclear reactors around the Baltic Sea region. Sweden has taken some conceptual regulations on several plants, Finland is actively working on several facilities already underway, Poland affirmed a strategy providing for four to six new reactors. UK too has begun an energy development programme to build up to fifty nuclear reactors, while some Eastern European countries are about to re-launch the construction works halted during the nineties. Latvia’s next-door neighbour Belarus has begun building a nuclear reactor plant in Astravets, Grodno Region near the Neris River.
The rapid construction of nuclear facilities will promote development of the economies, where the education system, and science and technology policies will be able to ensure skilled and qualified national workforce and companies to participate in constructing nuclear facilities in the European Union and third countries.
Construction, operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants is an important new job source for the whole region, given the high-wage and value-added nature of the work compared with traditional metal working and construction works. To be able to offer the rest of Europe and the world any services in this sector the countries of the region should have strong local nuclear research organisations to ensure the necessary competence, knowledge and skills.
The UL programme headed by the UL nuclear fission programme coordinator Dr. Agris Auce will bring together senior researchers Dr. J. Freibergs, head of the UL Institute of Physics, Ēriks Platacis and Dr. Acad. Oļģerts Lielausis, Dr. Gunta Ķizāne.