The Social Democrats’ demand for a broad energy agreement is not necessary, according to the heavy industry organization Swedish Enterprise.
In addition, S must vote for the expansion of nuclear power.
– When there are concrete proposals on the Riksdag’s table, it is important that you declare what you think in substance and not use these particularly crucial issues for political games, says CEO Jan-Olof Jacke.
Energy policy has become a central issue for Sweden. In the shadow of the energy crisis in Europe, households and companies have seen electricity prices skyrocket and a long battle over nuclear power and wind power has played out in the Riksdag.
The new bourgeois government has now chosen to move forward in several energy issues, where both offshore wind farms have been approved and a new energy policy goal – that Sweden should have 100 percent fossil-free energy production – has been introduced.
But the battles over Swedish nuclear power continue. The Social Democrats have not wanted to stand behind the new energy target and the party is trying to persuade Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) to sit down at the negotiating table in order to achieve a broad agreement between several parties on Swedish energy production. The Center Party has also made such a demand.
S has referred to the fact that such an agreement, similar to the one entered into in 2016 but broken up by M and KD in 2019, is what the business community is asking for because it would provide long-term rules of the game that should not be changed during the change of power.
But now the business world is biting back and calling on S to drop that idea and instead show their colors on several nuclear power issues that will soon be put to a vote in the Riksdag. Jan-Olof Jacke, CEO of the industry organization Swedish Business Association, believes that an agreement of the kind that S proposed is not necessary.
– My big concern with an agreement is that it will take a lot of time for negotiations. There is a paradox in that when you basically agree on the substantive issues, he says on location in Almedalen on Gotland.
Must S drop the demand to negotiate a new broad energy agreement?
– The important thing is policy. If you are clear about where you stand on the issue and show in Riksdag votes where you stand, or as the government clearly shows that all types of power are prioritized, that clarity creates a platform for long-termism. In practice, it plays the same role as an agreement can.
So you don’t need to come up with a broad agreement as it looked like last time?
– No not at all. We don’t have time for that. We need to move from words, and obviously the positions one has, to action and it has to be fast.
The government and the Sweden Democrats want more nuclear reactors to be built than the current limit of ten. In addition, reactors will be allowed to be built in more places in the country than today. The issue will soon be decided in the Riksdag and then S should vote in favor, according to Jan-Olof Jacke.
– I think it would be great. It’s not just about S agreeing to things, but when there are concrete proposals on the Riksdag’s table, it’s important to declare what you think in substance and not use these extremely crucial issues for political games, says the CEO and adds that it is at least as important that the government continues the expansion of wind power at the same time.
You are urging S to vote for these changes regarding nuclear power?
– Absolutely.
According to the Swedish Energy Agency, Swedish electricity demand may double by 2035 and reach 280 terawatt hours. Jan-Olof Jacke believes that the parties in the Riksdag must now take joint responsibility for Sweden to be able to expand electricity production to the extent required.
– This is too important an issue to make party politics out of. It is crucial for us to cope with climate change, it is crucial for us to cope with our competitiveness. When you are so broadly in agreement, then I think there is an obligation to take responsibility for Sweden’s best interests.