7 Feb (NucNet): Nuclear energy helped boost electricity production for the Swedish state-owned Vattenfall group in 2013, but “challenging market conditions” led to overall losses of 2.3 billion US dollars (1.7 billion euros), according to the company’s interim annual report.
Vattenfall’s president and chief executive officer Øystein Løseth, who unveiled the group’s 2013 year-end report, said that in terms of production 2013 was “a very good year”, especially in nuclear power, where generation reached 51.9 terawatt hours. This was the second-highest level since the start of generation 40 years ago and can be credited in large part to recent years’ modernisation work, a statement said.
The company said its production portfolio, which includes hydro power, nuclear power and lignite-based power, remains very profitable.
Vattenfall owns 10 nuclear reactors. Seven of these are in Sweden (four at Ringhals and three at Forsmark), and three in Germany (Brunsbüttel, Krümmel and a minority stake in Brokdorf). The Brunsbüttel and Krümmel reactors have been shut down and no longer generate electricity.
Last month the company began a 10-year consultation process for an environmental impact assessment for possible new nuclear reactors at Ringhals.
