Swiss government plans to return to nuclear power: a dangerous change of course!

Swiss government plans to return to nuclear power: a dangerous change of course!

The Swiss government plans a fundamental change of course in energy policy and would like to undo the nuclear phase -out. As krone.at , the ban on building new nuclear power plants could soon be overturned. Four nuclear power plants are currently in operation in Switzerland, including the oldest in the world, the Beznau facilities that have been running since 1969 and 1971. The operator Axpo plans to switch off these blocks by 2032 and 2033. However, there is no conversation about new construction projects, because in 2017 the Swiss voted in a referendum after the reactor accident in Fukushima for the nuclear phase -out. The new building was classified as a risk, while the operation may be continued.

political reactions and arguments

The government's argumentation for the possible new building is based on the changed global framework, including the Russian war against Ukraine and the associated gas bottlenecks. Federal Council and Parliament recognize the need for closer energy supply and a possible recourse to nuclear energy, although the promotion of renewable energies is still in the foreground, such as uvek.admin.ch . However, it is emphasized that no new construction projects have been initiated so far, and a strong resistance from the Greens is formed. Party President Lisa Mazzone explained unequivocally: "Nuclear power has no future, our future is renewable energies."

The current regulations stipulate that existing nuclear power plants can be operated as long as they are considered safe, while the construction of new systems with the new energy template is prohibited. This decision has been made in view of the high construction costs of new nuclear power plants and the increased security requirements and complex approval processes. However, nuclear research may continue, and the federal government continues to support them. Current sample projects such as the British nuclear power plant Hinkley Point C show that new facilities can only be feasible with massive state aids, the construction costs amount to exorbitant sums, which puts a lot of pressure on the market for new projects.