Authors

Discussion

The proposed paper investigates Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries’ energy transition against the Russia-Ukraine conflict, comparatively studying the Czech Republic and Poland. The main argument is that although cutting off from Russian energy might help decolonise the CEE further, decolonisation carried out without caution would drive them into the trap of energy neo-colonialism. 

CEE countries are in a deep energy quagmire. They, on the one hand, can hardly maintain economic growth without reliable and affordable energy supplies; on the other hand, urged by the EU’s consecutive sanctions against Russia, they must look for energy alternatives. That said, CEE countries’ energy transition journeys are fraught with perils. Notably, regardless of the EU’s call for solidarity, CEE countries’ energy priorities and agendas differ from their Western European counterparts. Well aware of the prosperity-and-solidarity dilemma, the Czech Republic has concluded long-term gas deals with Norway, whereas Poland resorted to its coal reserves. 

Albeit seemingly viable, the ongoing energy transition would incur enormous economic and environmental costs. Although CEE countries are inclined to embrace nuclear power further, they are short of expertise, to say the least. Insofar as only a few countries, including Russia and China, can provide mature nuclear power solutions, including economically feasible small modular reactors, prescribing nuclear power as the last-ditch attempt for decolonisation leads to energy neo-colonialism. The paper will be based on open data collected from official documents released by the CEE government institutions and national media.