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February
2009 |
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Swedish government first in Europe
to intend to lift its nuclear ban
 On
5 February, the Swedish government announced in a statement that
it intends to reverse the country’s long-standing ban on nuclear
energy and allow the building of new nuclear reactors to
gradually replace its existing nuclear fleet. The statement
still needs to be ratified by the Parliament. An energy bill
should be presented to the Parliament by 16 March. |
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European Parliament backs investment plan for nuclear
energy
 On
3 February, a report on the “Second Strategic Energy
Review” (SER II) drawn up by Anne Laperrouze (ALDE,
France) and calling for a specific roadmap for
investments in nuclear power was adopted by a large
majority of Members of the European Parliament (406
votes in favour, 168 votes against, and 87 abstentions).
The SER II will be discussed by the Member States during
the Spring Council on 19 & 20 March. |
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Who said what? |
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 “
Do we want to give our citizens cheaper
electricity and heating? If so, we cannot
gamble on sources which produce them at a
higher price. Do we want to strengthen our
freedom and independence? If so, we cannot
rely to so large an extent on imported oil
and gas. Do we want sustainable energy with
low emissions? If so, we cannot do without
nuclear energy.”
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek at a
conference in Ostrava on 30 January
For further information, please click here |
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And indeed I am supportive of the fact that
the nuclear industry is, should have to be
part of our energy mix in this century.”
“It’s 20% of our electricity generation
today, but it’s 70% of the carbon-free
portion of electricity today. And it is
baseload. So I think it is very important
that we push ahead.” “…there is certainly a
changing mood in the country, because
nuclear is carbon-free, that we should look
at it with new eyes.” “The first is to
accelerate this loan guarantee program for
the several [new] nuclear reactors, their
need to start, to restart the nuclear
industry.”
Steven Chu, US Secretary of Energy at the
Senate confirmation hearing on 13 January
2009.
For further information, please click here |
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 It
is important for the UK to “diversify out of
gas. We need to develop our plans around
nuclear, renewables and clean fossil fuels.
You don’t want to be dependent on one
particular supplier.”
Mr Miliband, UK Energy Minister, told the
BBC on 8 January |
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Facts and Figures |
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In the OECD some 300 million tonnes of toxic
wastes are produced each year, but the
amount of radioactive high level waste
worldwide is currently increasing by about
12,000 tonnes every year, which is the
equivalent to a two-storey structure built
on top of a basketball court. In countries
with nuclear power, radioactive wastes
comprise less than 1% of total industrial
toxic wastes (the balance of which remains
hazardous indefinitely). |
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Belgian nuclear forum
launches a pro-nuclear advertising campaign
 The
Belgian Nuclear Forum, one of FORATOM’s members,
launched on 2 February the first ever extensive
pro-nuclear public advertising campaign in Belgium.
Its immediate aim is to open a dialogue with the
Belgian public and make it more aware of the true
facts and inherent advantages of nuclear energy. The
ultimate objective is to influence the public and
politicians to rethink the nuclear option and
reconsider the current phase-out policy. The public
is asked to consider the facts and make up its own
mind and is prompted to learn more about nuclear
energy by visiting the Forum’s web site at:
www.nuclearforum.be (only in Dutch and French).
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Construction of second EPR
in France brings nuclear new build total in Europe to
nine.
 The
French Presidency announced on 30 January that the
construction of an European pressurised water reactor (EPR)
will begin at Penly, on the Channel coast near Dieppe,
in 2012 and will be connected to the grid in 2017. Penly
has already two operating 1 300-MW PWRs. |
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Poland plans to build
nuclear reactors by 2020
 The
Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, announced on 13
January 2009 that Poland had “adopted a Resolution on
nuclear energy… and that by 2020 electricity will be
generated by one or two nuclear power plants.” The
decision to accelerate Poland’s nuclear new build
programme is one of a number of policy measures aimed at
diversifying the country’s energy sources and ensuring
greater energy security. |
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Czech Republic’s Presidency
intends to foster debate on nuclear option
 The
Czech Republic is holding the six-month rotating
Presidency of the European Union from 1 January to 30
June 2009. The motto of its presidency: is 'A Europe
without barriers'. In the context of the recurrent gas
crises that have hit Europe recently, the Czech EU
Presidency presented its priorities emphasizing the need
to improve Europe’s security of supply. |
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Debate on Europarl TV |
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 The
Debate: Is there a future for nuclear energy in the
European Union? FORATOM’s Institutional
Affairs Director, Sami Tulonen, took part in a debate
broadcasted on 3 February on EuroparlTV, the recently
created television of the European Parliament. Following
the recent gas crisis, the debate focused on whether
nuclear energy could be an answer to security of supply
and climate change. The other guests were Satu Hassi (MEP,
Finland, Green), Anne Laperrouze (MEP, French, ALDE),
and Jan Haverkamp (EU Policy Campaigner, Greenpeace). |
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