Nuclear reactors in Sweden can run longer

Forsmark power plant. (Tomas Oneborg/Scanpix)
Forsmark power plant. (Tomas Oneborg/Scanpix)

The state-owned power company Vattenfall stated in its business plan Wednesday that five of Sweden’s nuclear reactors can run for 60 years because of new investments, rather than 50 years, as the limit had previously been set.

The reactors they say will be able to run longer, into the 2040s, are at Forsmark, plus Ringhals 3 and 4, which were built in the ’80s.

However, Sweden’s minister on environment issues, Lena Ek, is not convinced that the security of these reactors can be guaranteed for that long. She tells Swedish Radio News, “We can’t know that yet, because we don’t know how the building plans look, what kind of technology they’re thinking of using, and what improvements have to happen.”

Vattenfall believes it would be too expensive to extend the lifespan of the older reactors, numbers 1 and 2 at Ringhals, which were built in the mid 70s, beyond their lifespan of 50 years.

Radio Sweden

For more news from Sweden visit Radio Sweden.

Do you want to report an error or a typo? Click here!

Leave a Reply

Note: By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that Radio Canada International has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Radio Canada International does not endorse any of the views posted. Your comments will be pre-moderated and published if they meet netiquette guidelines.
Netiquette »

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *