nuclear-news

Austria digs in anti-nuclear heels as neighbours build out

 https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/austria-to-continue-anti-nuclear-stance-against-its-neighbours/ Nikolaus J. Kurmayer | EURACTIV.de Nov 8, 2022

The government confirmed that it would uphold its long-held anti-nuclear stance against its neighbours following media reports that Czech plans to build new nuclear reactors near the Austrian border are further ahead than scheduled.

Austria is Europe’s most fervent anti-nuclear country, and its only nuclear power plant never entered operation due to heavy opposition. Vienna is now suing the European Commission for granting the “green” label to nuclear power through the EU sustainable finance taxonomy.

This anti-nuclear stance against neighbouring countries will continue to be developed, said Green Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler, according to Ö1.

Meanwhile, six nuclear reactors in neighbouring Czechia are currently operating and provide about 37% of the country’s electricity. The government plans to have nuclear provide half of the country’s electricity in nearly 20 years, despite a projected general increase in electricity demand.

To achieve this serious nuclear build-out, the Czech government is betting on miniature nuclear power plants, so-called small modular reactors (SMRs). SMRs are far from commercial reality, as none have been built so far.

But Czechia is also looking at two regular reactors in Temelin, which is some 100 kilometres away from Linz, Austria’s third-largest city.

“Temelin is only about 50 kilometres away from the centre of our village”, from which the reactors can be seen from certain rights, Anita Gstöttenmayr, the mayor of a village located at the border, has said. “Something is simply being considered or decided without us being informed,” she added.

Anti-nuclear Austrian towns are now threatening to take the matter to the streets via protests and street blockades.

“It sounds stupid, but we will have to take to the streets again to raise awareness and make a difference,” the mayor added.

Languages: Deutsch

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November 14, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, politics