Nyamko Sabuni: MP delays decision on nuclear energy

Vattenfall production manager Torbjörn Wahlborg warns DN that the warehouse where Sweden’s nuclear fuel waste is temporarily stored is starting to fill up. It could threaten nuclear power operations starting in 2024, he says, and demands that the government make a quick decision on the issue.

Vattenfall now receives the support of the Liberals, who intend to act in the Riksdag to pressure the government.

– The decision-making responsibility lies with the government, not the Riksdag. But we intend to call in expert authorities so that they can testify to the entire Riksdag how urgent it is that we get a formal decision from the government, says Nyamko Sabuni.

Don’t you think this knowledge already exists in the Riksdag?

– Yes, but it is worth taking an initiative so that the entire Riksdag is coordinated around the urgency of a decision. If we can coordinate in the parliamentary committee, I hope that the Social Democrats can take responsibility for a decision that is made soon, says Nyamko Sabuni and continues:

– It may land on an advertisement, but now it is important that the expert authorities can testify about how urgent it is for the government to make the decision.

The Energy Minister responsible for the electricity supply is Anders Ygeman (S), but he refuses to comment on the consequences of a delay in the final disposition decision. Ygeman refers the matter to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Per Bolund (MP). According to Per Bolund, the government cannot promise a quick decision on the issue because there is still much to investigate.

– We don’t have a fixed schedule. It is a decision that must be made in the required time, Bolund told DN on Thursday and at the same time rejected that the parliamentarian’s opposition to nuclear energy affects the decision-making process.

Nyamko Sabuni dismisses the need to further investigate the matter. She believes that the deputy is deliberately delaying the process because the party is against nuclear energy.

– There is nothing more to investigate. The topic of disposal has been researched for 47 years and there is a safe solution, he says.

Even moderates believe that the issue has been fully investigated and shares Vattenfall’s fears that the continued operation of nuclear power is in jeopardy. M leader Ulf Kristersson welcomes the Liberals’ initiative.

– It is good that L is also pressuring the government to make this decision immediately. In the long term, the Green Party cannot be allowed to hijack Sweden’s entire electricity supply problem. It’s bad for Swedish industry and it’s bad for the transition to fossil-free, he says.

The ruling parties, the Social Democrats and the Green Party, have different approaches to the nuclear issue. Over the years, S has been pragmatic, while MP has always advocated genuine nuclear resistance. In 2016, an energy agreement was reached between five of the eight parliamentary parties: S, MP, C, M and KD. Under the deal, Sweden’s electricity supply will be renewable by 2040. The moderates and Christian Democrats have pulled out of the deal because they want to see investments in nuclear power.

Read more:

The Vattenfall alarm: almost full in the nuclear waste deposit

Ewa Stenberg: Now there will be a nuclear battle in the government

More fossil electricity after nuclear reactors shutdown

Minister of the Environment: We do not have a fixed schedule