Sweden calls for nuclear, coal power phase out
© 2000 Reuters Limited
June 21, 2000
Story by Eva Sohlman
STOCKHOLM - Sweden said on Tuesday nuclear and coal power had to be phased out if the environment around the Baltic Sea was to become cleaner.
"Both coal and nuclear power have to be phased out if we are to reach a sustainable development (of the environment) around the Baltic Sea," Environment Minister Kjell Larsson said in a statement.Larsson, at a meeting in Lithuania on the closure of the Chernobyl-style Ignalina nuclear power plant, stressed Sweden wanted to be the leader in developing renewable sources of energy and cutting nuclear and coal power.
He did not give any details. Sweden has 11 nuclear reactors covering 48 percent of its electricity needs. The rest comes mostly from hydro power and renewable sources like wind, sun and small hydro and bio-mass power plants.
Lithuania will close one of Ignalina's two reactors by 2005 and will decide on the shutdown of the second reactor in 2004. Larsson said Sweden would contribute 50 million crowns ($5.80 million) to an international fund set up by the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for closure of Ignalina.
He said the Swedish government had already contributed about 350 million Swedish crowns ($40.5 million) for that purpose since the beginning of 1990. Sweden also provides technical support to district heating and the use of biomass.
"The access to energy is vital to stimulate the economical and social development around the Baltic Sea," Larsson said.