"It is clear that from 2015 all the Baltic states will face a shortage of energy and one of the ways to solve the problem is a new nuclear plant," Economy Minister Kestutis Dauksys said during an international energy conference in Vilnius.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas urged neighbouring Latvia and Estonia to consider jointly building a new nuclear plant.

"All the facts show that only the three countries together could solve such an important problem. I do not imagine how Lithuania alone could do this," Brazauskas told the energy conference.

The premier said Lithuania was the best place to build a new nuclear plant because it had the required infrastructure.

"The positive attitude of the government and society towards a new nuclear facility would also be of help," Brazauskas added.

Media reports earlier this month suggested that the energy conference in the Lithuanian capital would lead to a joint statement by the three Baltic states on their intention to build a new nuclear plant.

However, according to Lithuanian media, the plans collapsed when Latvian Economy Minister Krisjanis Karins refused to sign such a statement, saying he had no authorization from his government.

"Building a nuclear plant could look like a logical solution, but the Latvian government has not yet taken any decision," Karins told AFP.

He said the feasibility study agreed by participants at the energy conference "shows the need to find a solution, and may answer questions related to costs, environmental issues and a potential site for the new plant".

In Estonia, officials gave clear backing to the building of a new nuclear plant in Lithuania.

"Estonia is ready to join in the project," Economics Ministry spokesman Allan Kasesalu told AFP.

The Lithuanian economy ministry has previously estimated that building a new nuclear plant would cost about three billion euros.

Lithuanian Economy Minister Kestutis Dauksys has said his government should control at least a 34 percent stake in the new facility, while other shares could be in the hands of private investors.

According to Dauksys, if a decision on building of new plant were taken this year, construction could start in 2008 and be completed in 2013.

The plans to build a nuclear plant in Lithuania are linked to its obligations to shut down its Chernobyl-type Ignalina nuclear facility in 2009.

Lithuania fears that after the closure of Ignalina the price of energy will go up considerably and the country's energy sector will be heavily dependent on Russia, which is the only supplier of gas and oil to the Baltic state.

One the two Chernobyl-type reactors at Ignalina, which supplies about 70 percent of energy consumed in Lithuania, was shut down on December 31, 2004 in line with country's comittments to the European Union.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all former commmunist states, joined the bloc when it expanded to take in 10 new countries in May 2004.

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