DISINFO: Decommissioning of a powerful nuclear power plant destroyed economy of Lithuania
SUMMARY
Decommissioning of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, once one of the most powerful stations, lead to the catastrophe of Lithuania’s economy.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on the economy of the Baltic States claiming that after they joined the EU their economy collapsed.
Following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, the EU decided that so-called High Power Channel Type Reactors (RBMK) and other first-generation Soviet-designed nuclear reactors would need to be shut down. At the time of its accession to the EU Lithuania agreed to shut down the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, which was built with the RBMK reactor.
86% of the decommissioning costs are financed by the EU funds.
The economic growth in Lithuania is stronger than the EU average and demonstrates one of the leading economic growth indicators in the EU.
Read earlier disinformation cases alleging that the Baltic states are dying because they chose not to be with Russia, that Lithuania will be depopulated in 20 years.