The initiators will receive signature forms on 27 March, consequently, will have to collect signatures of at least 300,000 eligible voters by 27 June, as stipulated by the law.
They initially wanted a binding referendum on the matter, but the electoral commission said legal acts did not allow such ballot without proposition of a legal amendment.
The steering group representing environmental organizations has spoken against the construction of the new nuclear power plant, saying the Visaginas utility would not ensure energy safety, prevent development of alternative energy sources. Economic details of the project have also been questioned.
Among initiators of the referendum is the Green Policy Institute headed Linas Balsys, former spokesperson of President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Grybauskaitė supports the new nuclear power plant project.
Together with Latvia, Estonia and Poland, Lithuania plans to build the new nuclear power plant next to Ignalina utility, which was brought to full stop in the end of 2009. Construction of the new plant should start in 2014, and the utility should be operational by 2020.
