Vattenfall's Board of Directors, which owns the majority of Ringhals, decided in the spring of 2015 to shorten operating hours for Ringhals 1 and 2. The original plan was to operate the facilities for 50 years, until 2025 and 2026, respectively.

However, from the turn of the year 2019/2020, the Ringhals 2 (R2) reactor will be closed, and a year later the Ringhals 1 (R1) reactor will also be taken out of service. The other two reactors have planned operation in the 2040s.

Falling electricity prices

The decision to close R1 and R2 was commercial, and was largely due to low electricity prices. In addition, major investments in upgrading were expected. Ringhals owners made the assessment that it would be more expensive to equip and operate the two reactors than they would profit from them.

On 28 May, the Industry Committee would decide on a report from the Liberals to keep R1 and R2 in operation. However, this was postponed to the next meeting.

Three nuclear power plants

Sweden currently has three nuclear power plants with a total of eight reactors in operation. Ringhals in Halland with four reactors, Forsmark in Uppland with three reactors and Oskarshamn in Småland with a reactor. About 40 percent of the electricity produced in Sweden comes from nuclear power, and about half of it is produced at Ringhals.

At Ringhals, 1313 people are employed (2019-01-01), which makes the power plant one of Halland's largest employers.

Sources: Waterfall, riksdagen.se