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• Swedish regulators merge

  The Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) and Swedish Radiation Protection Institute have merged. The new body will have responsibilities in radon protection, medicine, ultra-violet and laser light safety as well as nuclear power. Posted Jul 02 2008, 10:26 AM by World Nuclear News Filed under: Sweden

• Security alert at Swedish nuclear power plant

  Two welders working as contractors at the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant in Sweden are being questioned by police following the discovery of traces of explosives on one of the men's bag. The traces of explosives were found during routine entrance controls at the plant. EOn of Germany, the plant's owner, said that the bag did not actually contain any "visible illicit substances", but as traces of explosives were found on the bag the police will examine it further. Part of the plant was sealed off while extensive searches were made. Media reports say that the explosive material was identified by the police as being triacetone triperoxide (TAPT), an extremely unstable material that can be made using household chemicals. The plant's managing director, Lars Thuring, said, "We can establish that our safety routines are working." He added, "Our joint assessment is that the reactor safety was never threatened. We are however taking all necessary measures to verify this, of course." The men were working on one of the plant's three reactors which had been shut down for routine maintenance. The other two units have remained in operation. Posted May 21 2008, 10:55 AM by World Nuclear News Filed under: Sweden, security

• Strong support for Swedish fuel repository

  Residents of the two municipalities that are candidates to host Sweden's spent nuclear fuel repository have expressed strong support for the project, while the majority of residents of neighbouring municipalities are also in favour. Posted May 20 2008, 06:49 AM by World Nuclear News Filed under: Sweden, spent nuclear fuel repository

• Poll shows increased support for new nuclear in Sweden

  A new public opinion poll suggests that almost half of Swedes support the construction of new nuclear power plants in the country, despite Sweden's policy for phasing out nuclear energy. The survey indicated widely varying opinions according to political affiliation. Posted Jan 22 2008, 09:13 AM by World Nuclear News Filed under: New Nuclear Plants, Sweden

• Fortum launches electricity eco-labels

  Finnish utility Fortum will introduce two new eco-labels for electricity sold to business customers in Finland and Sweden. The labels will signify electricity produced with no carbon dioxide emissions, including nuclear-generated, and that produced entirely from renewable sources. Posted Jan 21 2008, 10:23 AM by World Nuclear News Filed under: Sweden, Finland

• SKB granted a licence for the extended Clab

  SKB, the company responsible for storing Swedish nuclear waste, has been granted an operating licence by the Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate for the extended central interim storage facility for used nuclear fuel at Oskarshamn. Posted Jan 16 2008, 10:27 AM by World Nuclear News Filed under: Sweden

• Swedish politicians call for rethink on nuclear phaseout

  Sweden's Liberal Party, a member of the country's ruling coalition, has called for the country to build four new reactors in its preliminary climate strategy. Posted Jan 14 2008, 11:15 AM by World Nuclear News Filed under: Sweden

• Swedish units still have up to 38 years life

  [The Local, 27 November] The Swedish Energy Agency has estimated that the country's nuclear power reactors have an average life span of 60 years, so the youngest reactor could potentially continue operating for a further 38 more years. The agency made the statement in a report prepared for the parliamentary working committee on climate change, which is due to meet today to discuss the future of nuclear energy in Sweden. According to a report in the Svenska Dagbladet newpaper, the agency's report states that Swedish reactors do not need to be taken out of operation "until between 2032 and 2045." Claes Vasterteg, a Centre Party member of the committee, told the newspaper, "We have to trust the report handed to us by the agency experts." Sweden has ten operating nuclear power units, generating up to half its electricity. The country conducted a referendum in 1980 in which the public voted never to build a new nuclear power station but to allow the twelve existing reactors to live out a 25-year lifespan. However, since then nuclear power stations have been shown to have considerably longer economic lifespans and no large scale low-carbon alternative has been developed. For political reasons, two reactors have been shut down, Barseback 1 and 2, but upgrades at the other three plants have added more nuclear generation capacity than has been lost. Posted Nov 28 2007, 10:28 AM by World Nuclear News Filed under: Sweden