Switzerland could build new nuclear power plants

Switzerland must be able to build new nuclear power plants Keystone-SDA

The Swiss government has opened up the possibility of new nuclear power plants in response to a people's initiative.

On Friday, the government put out for consultation a counter-proposal to the popular initiative ‘Electricity for all at all times (Stop the blackout)’. The initiators want to enshrine in the Swiss constitution that all ‘climate-friendly’ forms of electricity generation are permitted. This would allow the construction of new nuclear power plants.

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The governing Federal Council is opposed to this initiative, it said on Friday. Rather than amending the constitution, it wants to amend the Nuclear Energy Act with its counter-proposal, so that new power plants can once again be approved in Switzerland.

The aim is to design an energy policy that is open to technology and integrates nuclear power. However, the development of renewable energies remains the priority. Lifting the ban on the construction of new power plants has the advantage of allowing Switzerland to resort to the nuclear option should renewable energies fail to meet its needs.

Adapted from French by DeepL/ac

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