Sweden Shuts Oldest Nuclear Reactor Early

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--German energy major E.ON AG (FWB:EOAN) (Düsseldorf, Germany) has announced the early shutdown of the Unit 1 reactor at Sweden's Oskarshamn nuclear power plant.

Plant operator OKG AB (Oskarshamn, Sweden), which is majority owned by E.ON, confirmed that it has decided not to restart the unit, which had been scheduled for closure later this month, following an operational issue. Oskarshamn 1 is Sweden's oldest reactor, commissioned in 1972, with a generating capacity of 492 megawatts (MW). In 2015, the company decided not to resume operations at Oskarshamn 2 (661 MW), which was in the process of being modernised after closing in June 2013. Nuclear power accounts for 40% of the country's total electricity demand, which is supplied by nine operational reactors at three plants: Ringhals, Forsmark and Oskarshamn.

"It has been an honour to work at Unit 1, and I reflect upon this shutdown with considerable sorrow," said Mikael Wramsjö, production manager at Unit 1. "The unit has been part of a unique journey during its 45 years of operation. Approximately 110,000,000 megawatt hours of climate-efficient electricity have been delivered to the Swedish grid from Unit 1 since the start in 1972."

Johan Dasht, managing director of OKG, added: "The unit has kept its standards high, and it is amazing to see this huge commitment with respect to operating the unit to the very last minute. I have been fortunate enough to lately meet many of our co-workers in the control room and I am always very proud of the comprehensive attitude I encounter. During all conversations, the same issues are always addressed: safety, personnel and the plant. I would like to thank you all very much for keeping a high standard of motivation."

Decommissioning of the plant will occur in four phases, starting with the reactor being emptied of nuclear fuel, which will be stored in existing fuel pools for approximately a year, before being transported to a facility for spent nuclear fuel at nearby Clab, operated by Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) (Stockholm).

E.ON first revealed its plans to begin the early closure and decommissioning of its four Swedish reactors in 2013, citing weak wholesale electricity prices, Sweden's high tax on nuclear power and the cost of future investments in the plants for its decision. For additional information, see August 21, 2013, article - Sweden Shutting Four Nuclear Reactors Early.

Despite the proposed closures and a swing away from nuclear power by other European countries like Germany, Italy and Switzerland, Sweden announced last year that it wants to revive its ageing nuclear power fleet by allowing the construction of up to 10 new reactors as part of a new energy plan. A key part of the plan is the decision to axe a controversial tax that has been levied on nuclear power operators in recent years. For additional information, see June 20, 2016, article - Sweden Opts For New Nuclear Power.

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