Re: the strange world of Swedish energy & politics

["Bjorn Cedervall" <bcradsafers@HOTMAIL.COM>]

>Could this be an indication that people are finally coming around to their 

>senses ?

Jaro



NUCLEONICS WEEK - November 22, 2001

VATTENFALL APPROVES INVESTMENT AIMED AT 40-YEAR REACTOR LIVES

Vattenfall's board has decided to go ahead with a 1.5-billion-kronor

(U.S.$150-million) investment program at

<snip>

----------------

This is partly political logic - and also according to the will of the 

majority in Sweden (I wouldn't be surprised if a change of government even 

could result in a startup of Barseback 1 again but I doubt that the present 

government wouldn't whisper about that).



The signals sent over the past years seem to say (Government logic):

1. "Look we tried to phase out nuclear power as we promised - but we weren't 

able to"

2. Thoughts (not said too loudly): "We actually want to keep nuclear power 

and realize that we can't phase it out immediately but we can't say that".



In other words:

"We are against nuclear power (please vote for us if you are against nuclear 

power), and we are for nuclear power (because we didn't shut down all of it 

- so please vote for us if you are in favor of nuclear power)."



"We want it better for all people..."



Back to the reality - and Vattenfall: Few Swedes probably believe today that 

nuclear power will be phased out totally within say 15 years. There is a 

possibility however that about 4-5 reactors will be shut down before say 

2020 because of old age. What will come instead is a separate question - a 

few politicians have begun to say that we should plan for new NPPs but there 

are other possibilities like much more of natural gas. I can also mention 

that Vattenfall's profits increased strongly for the nine-month report as 

compared with one year ago:

http://www.vattenfall.com/files/2001_9_int.pdf



Well, most of this reflects my personal opinion about politics,



Bjorn Cedervall   bcradsafers@hotmail.com



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