Switzerland Halts Nuclear Plant Programme

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--As a result of the ongoing Japanese nuclear disaster, the Swiss government has suspended plans to add three new nuclear power plants to the country's power grid.

Switzerland has decided to halt the approvals process for the proposed nuclear plants because of safety concerns. The government has stated that it needs time to evaluate what is best for the Swiss people.

Last week's earthquake in the north of Japan and the resulting tsunami have wreaked havoc at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which has suffered numerous explosions, fires and radiation leaks. The decision by the Swiss could be the start of a general backlash against the re-introduction of nuclear power currently under way in numerous European countries. For related information, see March 15, 2011, article - Europe Faces Backlash After Explosions at Japanese Nuclear Plants.

"Safety and the population's wellbeing have top priority," stated Swiss Environment Minister Doris Leuthard. As a result, the country is suspending "blanket authorisation for nuclear replacement until safety standards have been carefully reviewed and, if necessary, adapted. We must review our energy policy," she added.

Switzerland has four operational nuclear power plants at Beznau, Mühleberg, Gösgen and Leibstadt, which generate about 40% of the country's electricity, while 55% comes from hydropower and the final 5% from renewable and conventional power. The country is facing an energy crisis in the coming years, as a number of the nuclear plants are scheduled to close by 2020. In December last year, the main operators Axpo (Zurich, Switzerland), Alpiq Holding AG (Olten, Switzerland) and BKW FMB Energie AG (Bern, Switzerland) agreed to join forces to build two nuclear plants with a combined generating capacity of 3,200 megawatts (MW).

Leuthard has ordered the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate to analyse the exact cause of the accidents in Japan and begin an overhaul of the current safety procedures at Swiss nuclear plants. The analysis will pay particular attention to the issues of seismic safety and cooling.

In a statement, Alpiq Holding commented on the government's decision: "Alpiq shares the view of Federal Councillor Leuthard that the safety and welfare of the population come first. Alpiq understands that the authorities wish to evaluate the events in Japan without any time pressure and incorporate their findings in safety requirements. Alpiq will continue to cooperate with the authorities and support them in their work. This applies both to the existing Gösgen nuclear power station and the nuclear power station project in Niederamt, Solothurn."

In Germany, which reversed its long-standing anti-nuclear stance last year, Chancellor Angela Merkel has introduced a three month suspension on approvals it gave energy companies to extend the lives of their ageing nuclear power plants. For additional information, see November 2, 2010, article - German Parliament Backs Extending Lives of Nuclear Power Plants.

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