State of Decision-Making in the Baltic States: Nuclear Energy Past and for the Future

Energy dependence is a very important issue on the energy agenda of the Baltic states. The shortage of electric energy has been affected by several factors, which began with the Chernobyl disaster, the closure of Ignalina, and the suspension of the Visagina project. Decisions have been influenced by political situations involving other neighboring countries. Various speculations about technical data, as well as legitimate concern about safety, among other reasons, have influenced the attitude of electricity consumers toward nuclear energy for decades. It is important to remember the chronology of historical events and the validity of decisions to understand the public’s negative attitude toward nuclear energy. This is just as important as seeing the differences between the latest technology and previous generations of nuclear reactors. It is important to start a dialogue about small modular reactors (SMRs) in the wider community to reduce doubt and eliminate the spread of fake news. Consumers should be allowed to evaluate current data and indicators, and an objective evaluation of the latest technological solutions should be encouraged to avoid other possible threats that could arise due to insufficient electrical energy. This research is also planned to be continued and expanded.