Sweden wants to move to more nuclear power
STOCKHOLM – Sweden’s centre-right coalition government recently said it will introduce legislation that will enable the construction of new nuclear power plants.
“We are now changing the legislation, which makes it possible to build more reactors in more places than is possible today,” said Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at a press conference.
It was unclear when the government will present the bill.
Sweden’s environmental law sets a cap on 10 reactors and new nuclear power plants may only be built in places where there are already reactors. The government wants these provisions to be removed. The plan is for the change to enter into force in March 2024.
There are currently six nuclear reactors at three locations: Forsmark, Oskarshamn and Ringhals.
Romina Pourmokhtari, minister responsible for climate and environment, said the new reactors could be smaller and must be built where they do the most good.
“We also see other countries building small reactors, instead of a few large ones,” Pourmokhtari told reporters. “Legislation must be adapted to new technology.”
When he formed his three-party coalition last year, Kristersson signaled an expansion of nuclear power, which previous Swedish governments had begun to phase out. In October, he said Sweden’s electricity production target would be changed from “100% renewable” to “100% fossil-free”, leaving room for nuclear power.
The three centrist parties secured a majority in parliament after the September 11 election with the help of the Sweden Democrats, a far-right party that has entered the political mainstream after years of being treated as a pariah by the other parties.