Nuclear power comeback needed?

Nils Andersson, Chairman of the Swedish Atomic Forum, presented a vision fornew nuclear energy growth in the EUon Monday 12 February. Addressing the Brussels Energy Round Table, Mr. Andersson responded to the Commission'sGreen Paper on security of energy supply.

Pointing to the fact that 35% of the EU's electricity is nuclear-generated, the Swedish business leader denied the crisis in the nuclear sector and told the Energy Round Table that "nuclear is an important part of thesolution to the climate change problem, and developing nations should have the freedom to choose nuclear as part of a sustainable development strategy". If the economic need becomes strong enough, "the next two decades may well see the construction of new nuclear plants in Europe", said an optimistic Andersson.

The Commission adopted its Green Paper on the future of its energy policy at the end of November 2000. The paper has relaunched the debate over nuclear power. The Green movement, now in power in several Member States, is opposed to re-opening the debate and prefers safe energy solutions such asenergy efficiency, renewable energy technology and co-generation.