Lithuania to hold a referendum on nuclear plant

Lithuania to hold a referendum on nuclear plant

Lithuania lawmakers have approved holding a referendum on whether to build a new nuclear power plant.
The non-binding vote will be on the same day as parliamentary elections, October 14th.

The government has proposed building the plant after 2020. Japanese firm Hitachi was granted preferential negotiating rights last year for the project.Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius opposed the referendum. He said it will be used as a political campaign.

Government officials say they will continue ongoing negotiations with Hitachi. But the parliament's approval shows public support for nuclear energy in the country is slipping following the Fukushima accident in Japan last year.Media agencies