Conference turris::scandia

356.0. "Future of nuclear power plants" by TLE::SAVAGE () Tue Jan 31 1995 11:50

    To: International Swedish Interest discussion list SWEDE-L
    <[email protected]>
    From: Jennifer Klenz <[email protected]>
    
    
            STOCKHOLM, Jan 27 (Reuter) - Sweden said on Friday it might
     continue to operate its nuclear plants well into the next
     century despite a referendum 15 years ago in which Swedes voted
     to close the country's 12 nuclear-powered stations.
            In the 1980 referendum, Swedes voted to close the power
     stations by the year 2010.
            However Energy Minister Jorgen Andersson said on Friday the
     plants might continue to operate beyond 2010 because of the
     difficulty of finding a new energy source.
            The possibility of a new referendum allowing nuclear power
     to continue to be used in Sweden after this date had ``not been
     ruled out,'' he told reporters.
            A referendum would ``take a decision on whether we can go
     past the 2010 deadline if it proves impossible to manage the
     decommissioning by then,'' he said.
            A new referendum could override the 1980 vote that favoured
     finding alternative energy sources.
            Andersson said the government would do everything possible
     to carry out an existing parliamentary decision to eliminate
     nuclear power, but added that no efficient alternative to
     nuclear energy had yet been discovered.
            Nuclear power is used solely for electricity production in
     Sweden and is responsible for approximately half the country's
     needs. Hydroelectric power produces the rest.
            A energy commission report on the consequences of closing
     one or more reactors is expected late this year.
            Several of the country's nuclear power stations are ageing
     and are closed regularly for repairs. Neighbouring Denmark has
     protested about the state of the Barseback power station which
     can be seen from Copenhagen.
            The main argument to keep nuclear power is cost. It is still
     the most inexpensive source, with its price per kilowatt hour
     comparable only to that of hydroelectric power.
            The leaders of Sweden's largest trade unions argued this
     week in an article in the Dagens Nyheter daily that nuclear
     power should be retained and a new referendum held.
            No new nuclear power station has been built in Sweden since
     1985. The year 2010 was chosen because it was believed a
     replacement programme would have to be introduced by that time.
            Supporters of nuclear power now argue that the power plants
     would be safe to use for a further 15 years beyond 2010, an
     argument bitterly contested by anti-nuclear lobbyists.