Sweden urged to remove “cloud of uncertainty”

Date: 20/02/03

THE head of Sweden's Sydkraft nuclear plant has called on the government to lift the "cloud of uncertainty" hanging over the country's nuclear industry. Lars Frithiof spoke out in the wake of mounting speculation that the government is considering whether to follow the example of Germany by phasing out nuclear power.

"The government must make a decision on the domestic future of the industry," said Frithiof.

He pointed to a recent opinion poll which shows that more than two-thirds of Swedes believe Sydkraft should stay open.

"Over the next 20-30 years it will be necessary for us to retain the nuclear power capacity that we have while also building new power plants to satisfy increasing consumption," said Frithiof.

He has also called for abolition of Sweden's "unfair and discriminatory" nuclear output tax.

"Each year, our nuclear power plants pay €217 million in a fixed and, within the EU, unique output tax regardless of how much we produce.

"It is disgraceful that we have a tax that discriminates against our electricity production. These resources are needed for reinvestments in our nuclear plants," Frithiof added.

A decision on the future of Sydkraft is expected in the next month.

Meanwhile, Lithuania's President-elect Rolandas Paksas has pledged to keep his country's nuclear facilities open.

In his election programme, Paksas, who formally takes up office on 26 February, said Lithuania must remain a nuclear state "for definite".

The head of Sweden's Sydkraft nuclear plant has called on the government to lift the 'cloud of uncertainty' hanging over the country's nuclear industry. Lars Frithiof spoke out in the wake of mounting speculation that the government is considering whether to follow the example of Germany by phasing out nuclear power.