Sweden shut down Barsebäck second
May 31st 2005

Bo Bylund, Energy Negotiator of the Swedish Government, announced Monday October 10th 2004 that negotiations between the Swedish Government and nuclear power industry had ended up unsuccessful. According to him, the parties did not trust enough each others’ will and ability to fulfil a long-standing agreement.

Power companies Sydkraft, Vattenfall and Fortum regarded unfinished negotiation unfortunate. They thought that achieving an agreement would still be possible.

Less than an hour after Bylund’s announcement the Swedish Government, Center Party and the Left announced via Leif Pagrotsky, Minister of Commerce, their unanimous decision to shut down the second reactor of Barsebäck nuclear power plant next year. Sweden has for long debated shutting down the second reactor of Barsebäck nuclear power plant located in Southern Sweden. In 1980 the Swedish voted for giving up nuclear power. The parliament decided to shut down both Barsebäck’s reactors in 1997. The first one was shut down in 1999, but closing down the second reactor has been delayed. Next there is an intention to find out chances of shutting down other reactors in Sweden as well.

The eleven operating reactors in Sweden produced 45.7% of the nation’s electricity last year. In Finland 29.8% of electricity was produced by nuclear power last year.

Huge investments in nuclear power plants

The other nuclear power plants in Sweden are improving their efficiency instead. According to Ny Teknik –magazine (August 17th 2004) Sweden increases nuclear power production 8 TWh per year by modernizing plants. Production corresponds approximately to annual production of a 1,000 MW nuclear power plant. The project is in line with the trend of positive attitude towards nuclear power production that has prevailed for several years in Sweden.

Since 1980 there have been several major decisions about energy politics made in Sweden. However, they have not had an effect on nuclear power. On the contrary, private and public nuclear power industry have invested hundreds of millions euros in servicing and repairing the operating reactors in addition to increasing their span of life.

Energy company Fortum is going to invest over 600 million euros in two Swedish power plants during next twelve years. Fortum’s Managing Director, Mikael Lilius, says in an interview in Turun Sanomat and Aamulehti that the investments are a possibility for growth, in which the company wants to be involved in. Fortum owns 23% of Forsmark nuclear power plant and 43% of Oskarshamn plant.

The people support nuclear power

For the first time more Swedish prefer to maintain nuclear power over the long haul than stop using it, informed Svenska Dagbladet -newspaper. In a measurement made by SOM –research institute 46% of the respondents were in favour of preserving nuclear power and 34% rejected it. 15% are in favour of constructing new reactors.

In a survey made by Dagens Nyheter and Sifo the differences are clearly sharper: 84% of supporters of Social Democrats want to preserve the present power plants or even construct new ones. Swedish Coalition Party favours nuclear power most: the power relations were 95-5. In the survey altogether 80% of respondents supported nuclear power and only 16% were for shutting down power plants. Especially the Social Democrats are concerned about employment and welfare, in case the power plants are to be closed down.

The Swedish Green Party has been most eager to get rid of nuclear power as soon as possible. The Social Democratic government and the Left were keen to negotiate decommissioning schedule with the industry.

Simultaneously with closing down Barsebäck the Swedish are planning to build a new cable connection between Olkiluoto and Forsmark. Finland continuously exports electricity to Sweden with maximum capacity of the network.