2025-08-21 19:14
publication
2025-08-21 19:14
We will invest in small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) at the existing traditional Ringhals nuclear power plant on the west coast of Sweden – the Swedish state energy group Vattenfall said on Thursday.
Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson's decision of the company at a specially convened conference “historical”. – This will be the first investment in the atom in our country for 50 years – he noted.
According to the plan of Vattenfall, by 2035, five BWRX-300 reactors of the American company GE Vernova or three British Rolls-Royce company will be built on the Vaeroe Peninsula near Varberg. Each of these technologies can provide a power of 1500 MW, which is as much as the production of 1.5 traditional reactor. Analyzes are underway to choose one of the offers.
In addition, the uprising at the place of closed conventional blocks of Ringhals 1 and 2 subsequent modular reactors with a capacity of 1000 MW was not excluded.
According to the head of the Nuclear Energy Department, Vattenfall, Desire Comstedt, the selection of SMR technologies was determined by lower investment costs, as well as the specificity of the place where reactors are to be created, i.e. the Vaeroe Peninsula. Earlier, the company prevented the possibility of building traditional nuclear blocks.
The construction of the new nuclear power plant is one of the main election promises ruling the center -right coalition of Prime Minister Kristersson since 2022 and the Extremely Right -Right Party of the Swedish Democrats. It was announced that the first spade for the investment would be driven during the term of office in the autumn of 2026. Today it is already known that it will be difficult, although – as commentators notice in the media – a lot depends on the interpretation. Preparatory work has already begun.
From this summer, enterprises wanting to invest in an atom in Sweden can apply for an attractive loan from the state and a guaranteed price of energy produced. Vattenfal intends to apply for it. This model is criticized by the leftist opposition as too expensive for the taxpayer. Another fear applies to a relatively new SMR technology, for now this type of small reactors only operate in Russia and China. However, many other countries, including the US, see them in them.
In Sweden, the center -right came to power after criticizing eight -year social democrats and environmental protection party. In the years 2014-22, the authorities decided to close four nuclear reactors, including two in Ringhals. Nuclear power was invisible, but right -wing politicians thought it was ideological pressure from the green.
Today in Sweden there are six traditional nuclear reactors, two ringhals, three in Forsmark north of Stockholm, as well as one in Oskshamn in the southwest of the country. The gyms provide about one third of the demand for the energy of the country.
From Stockholm Daniel Zyśk (PAP)
Zys/ Mal/
