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Laurynas Kasčiūnas, one of the initiators of the amendments, chairman of the Seimas Defense and National Security Committee, says that Lithuania has recognized the threat to national security from the Astravas nuclear power plant, but politicians have recently received information that the Lithuanian energy sector companies buy equipment from companies.
“We, as initiators of the law, believe that this should not be the case. Companies related to the Astravo nuclear power plant should not be given orders in Lithuania when the position of the Lithuanian state is to block the supply of electricity from the Astravo nuclear power plant to Lithuania, ”said L. Kasčiūnas in the Seimas court.
Žygimantas Gedvila / 15min photo / Laurynas Kasčiūnas
“Therefore, the aim of these projects is to ensure that companies participating in the Astrava nuclear power plant projects cannot participate in the Lithuanian energy projects,” he added.
According to the politician, this is proposed to ensure through amendments to two laws. An amendment proposes the obligation for a company important to national security to notify a special government commission of its intention to carry out a transaction in which the counterpart is involved in specific activities that pose a threat to national security.
This obligation now exists above 10% of the value of the transaction. the annual revenue of the company. The amendments propose to completely abandon the criterion of transaction value.
The second amendment proposes to establish that Lithuanian companies in the strategic energy sector cannot carry out transactions directly or through intermediaries with entities participating in the Astravas nuclear power plant projects.
“Scanpix” / AP nuotr./Aleksandras Lukašenka
At the presentation stage, 115 members of the Seimas voted in favor of the amendments, there were no voters against and 11 deputies abstained.
Despite this support, L. Kasčiūnas received critical questions from the opposition in the Seimas Hall.
Social Democrat Gintautas Paluckas said he was a bit oblivious to “hypersensitivity to some issues.”
How simple are pipelines a threat to national security? I am referring to specific cases where one of the pipe suppliers caused a big scandal because the goods provided by that supplier will be used in the Lithuanian energy system in a broad sense, ”said a member of the Seimas.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Gintautas Paluckas
“Don’t you think that such an ambition, the ban will lead to a boycott of the napkin seller Astravo AE’s canteen?” He added.
L. Kasčiūnas explained that transactions in Lithuania would be prohibited for companies in the energy sector.
“There is nothing to talk about napkins here,” said the curator. “We are talking about a sensitive and quite important strategic industry.”
According to him, after Lithuania recognizes the threat posed by the Astravas nuclear power plant, it is logical that the companies contributing to the development of this power plant will face restrictions in Lithuania.
“I don’t think it’s good that the state has decided to block the electricity supply, but it also opens the door to a company that is working on this project, developing it, to sell some of its equipment in Lithuania. This is really a misunderstanding and we suggest correcting this situation, ”said a member of the Seimas.
His colleague Petras Gražulis asked a question on a slightly different topic: in the absence of the boycott of the Astravas nuclear power plant, wouldn’t it be cheaper to buy this electricity directly and make sure the power plant is really safe?
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Peter Gražulis
“It definitely won’t destroy it,” said the MP.
“Very angry today, Petra,” replied L. Kasčiūnas.
Outraged, he added that taking care of the safety of the Astrava nuclear power plant is very difficult because there is no independent energy regulator in Belarus that can guarantee the normal maintenance of the power plant.
“This is the difference between states where there is the rule of law and states where there is no rule of law,” said the conservative.
Žygimantas Gedvila / 15min photo / Laurynas Kasčiūnas
Amendments to the laws will now be discussed in the Seimas Defense and National Security Committee. They should then return to the plenary session of the Seimas for consideration and approval.
The Astrava nuclear power plant, built since the beginning of the last decade, was commissioned last year.
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