Nuclear in Switzerland: the ban called into question

Will it soon be possible to build new nuclear power plants in Switzerland? The Federal Council wishes this and is now sending its project for consultation. But the first reactions are harsh.

Michael Graber, Samuel Thomi / ch media

If we want to minimize debate around a controversial subject, it is recommended to talk about it at the same time as another – even bigger – controversial subject. In the case of the counter-project to the “Stop blackout” initiative, there are even two other subjects which have diverted attention from the return of nuclear power.

In the shadow of the CEP report on Credit Suisse and the agreement with the EU, the Federal Council put the indirect counter-project to the abandonment of nuclear power plants for consultation during its meeting on Friday . The central element of this proposal is an adaptation of the nuclear energy law “so that new nuclear power plants can once again be authorized in Switzerland”, as the press release specifies. Federal Councilor Albert Rösti had already announced the general direction of the project in August.

The decision is explosive, because the Federal Council largely goes in the direction of the initiators and actually wants to overturn a recent popular decision. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, the national government decided within ten weeks to abandon nuclear energy. The people confirmed this decision at the ballot box in 2017.

Theoretically, it would even be possible for this change to be approved without going to the ballot box, if the current counter-proposal were adopted by Parliament and the initiators withdrew their proposal. However, the holding of a referendum on this issue seems guaranteed, as the first political reactions show.

«Sabotage plan»

The Federal Council justifies its pirouette of opinion by “considerable uncertainties” as to the possibility of covering the growing electricity needs solely with renewable energies. By “integrating nuclear energy”, the aim is to create “reassurance in the electricity supply”, “in the event that renewable energies cannot be developed to the desired extent”. The supply uncertainties linked to the war in Ukraine have therefore disappeared from the argument.

Enough to trigger strong reactions. The PS speaks of “a dangerous energy policy from the old days”. The Greens of a “sabotage plan for the energy turning point”. The Alliance for the Exit of Nuclear power speaks of “very high risks”. All the detractors point out that building a nuclear power plant would be very expensive and would last so long that they would contribute nothing to the security of electricity supply over the next two decades.

Additionally, it is unclear who might build a new nuclear power plant. The major electricity groups have all stressed that they currently have no plans for a new nuclear power plant. And this, in particular for cost reasons. However, many energy companies welcome the fact that it is once again possible to build new nuclear power plants.

The report does not mention a possible financial participation by the Confederation in a new nuclear power plant. Funding is not at the heart of the current debate anyway.

Priority to renewable energies

Supporters of nuclear power, for their part, speak of a “positive signal for technological openness”. The Federal Council's proposal is also not a decision in favor of a new nuclear power plant, but leaves Switzerland with every opportunity to remedy possible energy shortages. In its press release, the Federal Council also emphasizes that the development of renewable energies “remains an absolute priority”.

While he emphasizes that nuclear energy is also CO2 neutral, a possible new nuclear power plant will struggle to make a significant contribution to achieving the climate goals that Switzerland has set for itself. Indeed, the construction of a new nuclear power plant seems unrealistic by 2050, even in the most ambitious timetables.

The consultation on lifting the ban on building new nuclear power plants will last until April. The Federal Council will then definitively decide on the course of action to follow.

Translated and adapted by Chiara Lecca

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