EASTERN EUROPE: 17 Mar. UPDATE: 2 New Nukes...Still In Poles Future...Despite Japanese Tragedy; Merkel Imposes Old Nukes Moratorium; Czechs, Slovaks And Others Support New Nukes.

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   Despite the spectacularly tragic Japanese nuclear meltdowns, Poland will press-on with its proposed program to build two 3,000 MW nuclear reactors, the first scheduled for 2020.
    “A nuclear energy program is indispensable to ensure Poland’s security so that industry does not have problems with electricity supply in the coming decades," said a spokesman.
     Poland gets 94% of its electrical energy from coal. It is the EU's most coal-dependent member.
      Lithuania wants to replace its Ignalina nuclear power plant partly closed in 2004  because of safety problems.
    Russia is also sticking to its nuke plans including to finance and build Belarus’s first nuclear power plant at 4.3 billion euro or $6 billion near the Lithuanian border though PM Putin has ordered officials to check facilities and review plans...while Germany will shut down...until at least June...ALL 7 nuclear power plants in operation before1980. 
   That action will leave only 10 nuclear stations to generate power. 
   Both Slovenia and the Czech Republic plan to continue nuke plans.