Sweden delays close of Barseback nuclear reactor

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Sweden delays close of Barseback nuclear reactor
  
STOCKHOLM, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Sweden will delay a planned close of a 
second reactor at nuclear power plant Barseback in south Sweden by 
2001, Industry Minister Bjorn Rosengren said on Wednesday. 

Sweden, which voted to phase out nuclear power in a 1980 referendum, 
closed its first reactor at the two-reactor plant Barseback in 
November last year. 

But to get the go-ahead and close the second reactor, a 1997 
agreement stated Sweden would have to replace the estimated losses of 
four terawatt hours (TWh) with renewable energy such as biomass, 
solar, wind and small hydropower. 

``For the government, it is an obvious standpoint that the conditions 
of the 1997 decision should be followed,'' he said in a statement. 

He said that it had decided to delay the shutdown because several 
reports showed the conditions would not be met by 2001 and that 
Sweden would only be capable of producing 2.5 TWh by 2001. 

The standpoint meant the government would not follow a report by the 
Swedish National Energy Administration, stating the reactor could be 
closed by 2001 because production costs for nuclear power were higher 
than the market price. 

It said power prices had plummeted unexpectedly since the Nordic 
power markets were deregulated in line with a European directive to 
open up Europe's power markets to competition by 2003. 

The risk of power shortages in south Sweden was a further reason why 
the government had decided not to close the Sydkraft (SYDc.ST)-owned 
615-megawatt reactor, he said. 

``It (shortages) could increase the imports of power from coal and 
oil which would lead to increased emissions of carbon dioxide...'' he 
said. 

Sweden has 11 operating nuclear reactors. 

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