25 May (NucNet): Eight out of 10 Swedes are in favour of either building new nuclear reactors or of continuing to use existing units without building new ones, a poll has found.
The poll indicated that 48 percent of Swedes want the country’s 10 existing reactor units to continue in operation, but with no new build. This compared to 44 percent in a similar poll three months ago.
A further 31 percent said Sweden’s existing reactor units should continue in operation and that new units should be built if necessary. Three months ago the figure was 33 percent.
Sixty-six percent of respondents gave Sweden’s nuclear power plants a safety rating of between seven and 10 on a scale of one to 10. Three months ago the equivalent figure was 67 percent.
The poll was carried out earlier this month by Swedish polling organisation Synovate Temo on behalf of The Analysis Group of the Swedish Nuclear Training and Safety Center (KSU).
Sweden’s Forsmark nuclear power plant has been under scrutiny since an incident in July 2006 that led to a reactor scram at Forsmark-1. In February 2007, SKI asked prosecutors to launch a criminal investigation into events that led to the scram.
Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has said no political decision will be taken on phasing out nuclear power during his government’s term in office, which ends in 2010.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Swedish Units Halted For Checks – Investigation Starts Into 2006 Incident (News No. 30, 5 February 2007)
Swedish Confidence In Nuclear Still High Despite Forsmark Incidents, Says Poll (News No. 38, 12 February 2007)
