The best location for building a nuclear power plant is being considered in Estonia, and given that sufficient water for cooling can only be obtained from the sea, the selected sites are located on the coast, writes ERR News.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines set out a number of prerequisites that must be considered when choosing a site for the construction of a NPP. Agnes Lihtsa, Advisor for Land and Spatial Policy at the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, pointed out that the ministry’s list of requirements includes 40 criteria. She said that these are not only nuclear safety requirements, but also geological criteria, hydrological criteria (availability of water for cooling), as well as the project’s impact on natural or environmental values, and socio-economic criteria.
Lihtsa pointed to examples that must be considered when choosing a site for a NPP. According to her, six potential locations for the NPP are currently being considered, all near Kunda and Lüganuse. Lihtsa said that the most important factor is the availability of water for cooling, and in Estonia’s case, the only place where it is possible to obtain enough water is the sea, as there are no rivers in the country that could provide a sufficient flow of water. However, there are also not many suitable places on the coast, and the best options have been found near Kunda and Lüganuse. Three potential construction sites have been looked at near both villages.
The geological situation is also important, as the bedrock must be very stable. Another important factor is the proximity of power lines to connect the NPP to substations. Two possible connection points have been found so far – a substation near Rakvere and a substation near Püssi. The proximity of ports should also be considered, so that nuclear fuel or construction materials can be delivered more easily.
The councillor said people don’t want a nuclear power plant in the immediate vicinity of their homes,
so officials are trying to find a location with as little population as possible. In August, the ministry held public consultations to get a broader reflection of local residents’ opinions, and received a lot of feedback. Lihtsa said that local residents are mainly concerned about how the proximity of the nuclear power plant will affect property values, groundwater and the environment. According to her, the feedback has varied widely – from the recognition that residents simply do not want a nuclear power plant in their vicinity to dozens of pages of detailed letters.
The proposals are still being reviewed, but it is already clear that the evaluation and selection of potential construction sites will require more explanation. Lihtsa said that it will probably be necessary to outline the methodology more clearly so that everyone understands how the comparison is made, how the locations are evaluated and how the selection is made.
The Ministry of Economy and Communications hopes to make sufficient progress by spring to select a construction site.
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