After previously opposing the classification of nuclear power as sustainable by the EU, the government has recently turned around.
- The government has pointed out that we can accept that nuclear power can be classified as sustainable in the EU taxonomy, says Minister of Energy Khashayar Farmanbar (S).
On the other hand, he believes that, according to the scientific definitions, it is impossible to say that nuclear power is a renewable energy source.
But sustainability is a looser concept.
- Nuclear power is not renewable, period.
The concept of sustainability has no scientific definition.
"Important in other countries"
Farmanbar believes that it could be justified to expand nuclear power in other EU countries, where the alternative is dirtier energy production, but that Sweden has other conditions thanks to hydropower.
- It can be an important part of the green transition in some countries.
And our existing nuclear power in Sweden is very good, we will safeguard it.
But for the Swedish state, investments in new nuclear power are "not a sustainable way forward", says Farmanbar.
This is because nuclear power takes a long time to build and is relatively expensive to operate.
- My goal is for Sweden to have access to a lot of electricity, it should be in place fairly quickly and it should be cheap.
MP: Had stopped it
The Green Party, which left the government last autumn, does not believe that nuclear power should be classified as sustainable by the EU, partly due to the radioactive waste.
- This would not have happened if the Green Party had been in the government.
Then we would have ensured that the government's line was clearer and that it had meant that only the renewable energy sources should be considered sustainable, says Lorenz Tovatt (MP), energy policy spokesperson and member of parliament.