Main focus of Friday, February 6, 2009

A turnabout in nuclear policy

Sweden has said it intends to construct new nuclear power plants, reversing its 30-year nuclear phaseout policy. The government decision announced on Thursday is aimed at reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels. The UK, France and Finland are also planing to build additional reactors. The European press comments on this turnabout in energy policy.

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

Sweden's decision to replace its existing nuclear power plants with new ones has overturned one of the continent's oldest nuclear phaseout laws. The left-liberal Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: "The decision comes at an opportune time for Europe's power companies and will give a strong signal. Sweden will take over the EU Council presidency in the middle of the year, and a major focus during its six-month term will be on the international climate conference to take place in Copenhagen in December. ... Europe's nuclear lobby will now be able to maintain that Sweden has finally realised that an efficient energy policy is not possible without nuclear power. And Sweden's government will help the lobbyists with their work. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt stated explicitly on Thursday that he hopes his government's decision will serve as a model for other countries of the EU. ... This is bad news, because what energy policy really needs is a radical rethinking, in Sweden as well." (06/02/2009)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Energy, » Sweden, » Europe
All available articles from » Gunnar Herrmann

Helsingin Sanomat - Finland

The daily Helsingin Sanomat has its doubts about whether there ever will be a return to nuclear power in Sweden: "Climate policy is an important component of the Swedish government's political programme and the statement is indeed a bold turnaround in domestic policy. Together with Germany this country pioneered the withdrawal from nuclear power and now it's willing to go back on its word. … Since the construction of new nuclear power plants was legally banned there are no nuclear power projects and no plans for such projects. Therefore it will be ten to fifteen years before the first reactor can be replaced. … Nor can we rule out the possibility that no nuclear power plants at all are built. Looking towards the next elections, both the opposition and the Social Democrats staunchly oppose the construction of new nuclear plants. … The stance on nuclear power and its share in the energy mix has been one of the most explosive and difficult subjects in Swedish politics for decades." (06/02/2009)

» full article (external link, Finnish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Energy, » Sweden

Dagens Nyheter - Sweden

The daily Dagens Nyheter welcomes the Swedish government's decision to suspend the ban on constructing nuclear reactors. "With yesterday's agreement, the Allianz has surpassed all expectations. It demonstrates power, creativity and faith in this common project. ... The Alliance for Sweden can benefit in the short term from [head of the Social Democrats] Mona Sahlin's having manoeuvred herself into a corner. But ultimately that would prove bad for Sweden. Instead of continuing the anti-nuclear rhetoric, Mona Sahlin should seize the moment. A long-term, broad-based energy decision is now within reach." (06/02/2009)

» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Sweden

Göteborgs-Posten - Sweden

With an emphatic "finally" the daily Göteborgs-Posten welcomes the "liberating" decision of the coalition in favour of nuclear power, which will also secure jobs. "As the leader of the [Liberal People's Party] FP Jan Björklund stresses, it will take around 15 years to plan and build a new power plant. It's therefore essential to think in the long term. For the economy and employment the important thing is a clear decision." (06/02/2009)

» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Sweden

Corriere della Sera - Italy

The liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera writes that Sweden's decision in favour of nuclear power was heavily influenced by Finland, where a nuclear power plant is currently being built on the basis of an innovative financing concept. "Finland's experience, where thanks to a new financing system one of Europe's new nuclear power plants is being built and is scheduled for completion in 2012 (the other is in Flamanville in France), should not be underestimated. The system, as expert on energy policy G.B. Zorzoli explains, is called 'power chase agreement' and consists of a consortium of future customers who have each undertaken to purchase a certain quota of the energy produced. The construction company can use this commitment as a security for bank loans. This system based on the Finnish model has sparked a resurge of interest in nuclear energy all over Europe, including Italy." (06/02/2009)

» more information (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Sweden
All available articles from » Edoardo Segantini

» To the complete press review of Friday, February 6, 2009