Sweden lifts ban on nuclear power

Sweden lifts ban on nuclear power

Guardian.co.uk by Terry Macalister 5 February 2009
Environmentalists opposed to nuclear power said the decision in Sweden was one taken by a small majority in parliament and did not represent a significant swing back to favour for atomic power.

“No way can this be seen as a ringing endorsement given the parties concerned only hold 180 of 349 seats. The largest party in Sweden is still against nuclear and the people are not enamoured by it either,” said Jean McSorley, a senior nuclear adviser at Greenpeace.
McSorley believed the construction of an new nuclear plants would be hampered by the long lead times and huge expense at a time when the global recession means money is in short supply.
“There are very long lead times for new nuclear plants giving plenty of time for faults to emerge,” she explained, noting that the Finnish reactor, Olkiluoto 3 currently under construction, has already fallen behind schedule and is over cost……………
………Swedish ministers also outlined plans to lift the proportion of renewable energy consumption to 50% of the total. In the transport sector alone, the target was set at 10% and Sweden has become a major importer of sugar-based ethanol from Brazil. Sweden already gets much of its power from hydroelectric and biomass schemes.

Sweden lifts ban on nuclear power | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Tags: nuclear, antinuclear, radioactive, uranium

February 6, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, politics