Electricity prices are soaring and in the shadow of the Ukraine war, Sweden’s future energy supply has started to become the dominant issue in the election campaign. A fact that apparently caused the Social Democrats to reevaluate nuclear power.
– In the debate, people have previously talked about one energy stroke at a time, but that will not be enough. If we are to manage both the energy supply and pressure on prices, a holistic approach is needed in Sweden, says Finance Minister Mikael Damberg to SVT.
Increase the effect
According to Damberg, nuclear power’s share of energy production will have to grow, among other things by increasing the effect on today’s reactors and also allowing them to be in operation longer than previously planned.
– We are also open to the fact that if there is new nuclear power technology, it must be able to be developed, says Damberg without presenting any concrete proposals on how the conditions for new or extended nuclear power should be improved.
S must also review the goal that Sweden’s energy supply must come from renewable sources to 100 percent by 2040 at the latest, a goal that assumes that all nuclear power has been shut down by then because it is not classified as renewable.
– We are prepared to discuss that formulation in broad political talks, says Energy Minister Khashayar Farmanbar (S).
Kristersson (M): “Nonsense”
Several bourgeois opposition parties have argued in previous energy talks that the word “renewable” should be replaced by “fossil-free”, which would mean that nuclear power could continue to live after 2040. S has so far said no, but is now signaling a shift.
A swing that moderate leader and prime ministerial candidate Ulf Kristersson does not care much about.
– A few weeks before an election, they say they want to have conversations that will sound like they are now in favor of nuclear power. It’s pure nonsense.