Lithuania shut down its nuclear power plant in Ignalina last week, raising fears of increased energy dependency on Russia and of a further blow to an already recession-hit economy.

The Baltic state shut down the last reactor at the Ignalina plantexternal on Thursday (31 December).

It agreed to shut the plant, which has the same kind of reactors as at Chernobyl, the site of the worst nuclear accident in 1986, under its agreement to enter the European Union.

Some analysts have forecast rising power prices, dealing a further blow to the economy, and more dependence on power supplies from Russia.