OREANDA-NEWS. August 05, 2009. Iberdrola Ingenieria, a part of Iberdrola S.A., a Spanish electric utility, is negotiating with Rosatom State Corporation on its participation in the construction of Baltic Nuclear Power Plant in Kaliningrad region, President of Iberdrola Ingenieria Ramon de Miguel said in an interview to El Economista on Aug 4 2009, reported the press-centre of Minatom.

He said that Rosatom was planning to involve foreign – preferably European – investors in the project and to possibly give them up to 49% in the future plant. As much as 5bln EUR is estimated to be invested in the project. The 1st unit is supposed to be launched in 2016, the 2nd unit – in 2018.

The construction may be started as early as 2010. In June 2009 Minister of Energy of Russia Sergey Shmatko said that Rosatom had already earmarked financing for 2010. By the end of this year Rosatom expects to obtain all permissions, particularly, the licenses of Rostekhnadzor.

The preliminary environmental impact assessment of the project was put up for public discussion in Neman, Kaliningrad region, on June 24.

Among the potential suppliers of equipment are Ansaldo Nuclear and Russian-French JV Alstom-Atomenergomash.

De Miguel said that Iberdrola Ingenieria already had an experience of cooperation with Russian nuclear companies. Particularly, it has a cooperation agreement with Energoatom Concern, the operator of 31 Russian nuclear reactors. The agreement was signed in 2005 and stipulates the conduct of seminars and technical consultations. In this field Iberdrola Ingenieria cooperates with Kola, Balakovo and Novovoronezh NPPs.

The participation in Baltic NPP project implies a new qualitative level and offers a much wider spectrum of opportunities, particularly, an opportunity to have a stake in an NPP in a country having very high development capacities in the field of nuclear power engineering.