Funding safety improvements in Eastern Europe

The author stresses, in any case, that reactor safety is the priority, and that there should be a clear safety component in any future Bank project in this area. As a conclusion, as nuclear safety is clearly identified as a major issue for Eastern Europe, and therefore for the European Bank, nuclear generation as such is by no way a priority. The main priorities of the Bank's energy strategy are: energy efficiency, demand side management and environmental protection. As for the power sector, this probably means that priority investments will consist of refurbishment of various power plants (mainly thermal and hydro) for efficiency and environment improvements. In any case, there is little chance that a green field nuclear power plant could be economically justified compared to other options available, oil and gas development; and sector reform. The European Bank is is the first similar international institution that envisages activities in nuclear power. (orig./HSCH)