Gas crisis revives EU nuclear debate

Brussels is set to reopen a heated debate on the future of nuclear power with an EU policy paper on energy this spring.

EU moves towards securing energy supply follow a new year Russia–Ukraine row that disrupted European gas supplies.

After a tentative return to the political mainstream in 2005 as a ‘clean’ energy source in the fight against climate change, 2006 is set to see nuclear energy at the forefront of the debate on Europe’s energy security.

Fallout from the Moscow–Kiev dispute, which saw European gas supplies disrupted has rattled many EU governments and highlighted just how heavily Europe relies on imported gas and oil from Russia.

The EU currently imports 25 per cent of its gas and 30 per cent of its oil from Russia, while countries such as Slovakia, Finland, Poland and Hungary are totally or very heavily dependent on Russian supplies.

Nuclear power supporters welcomed last week’s commitment by EU energy chief Andris Piebalgs on emphasising atomic energy in Europe’s energy mix.

Piebalgs said that reducing Europe’s dependency on energy imports must include “looking at nuclear energy” and at building new nuclear power plants, “under market conditions”.

“Nuclear power must be a source.  One third of electricity demand is produced by nuclear power. That’s a lot; it must stay at that level,” said Piebalgs.

The forces favouring a nuclear revival are security of supply, the rising cost of oil and gas and EU member states need to meet their Kyoto commitments on CO2 output.

“The recent gas supply crisis... highlights just how vital it is that a secure supply of energy should be ensured at all times," said MarK O'Donovan of industry lobby Foratom.

Over-dependency upon any single source of generating capacity can lead to energy shortages and promote instability said O'Donovan.

"As a proven and safe technology, nuclear power has an important role to play in terms of ensuring secure electricity generation without CO2 emissions.”

Nuclear supporters are increasingly pressing its clean air credentials, and a number of member states are set to review their nuclear policies over the coming year, including the UK, Italy, Sweden Germany and Belgium.

Fifteen years after banning nuclear energy, the Italian government last year said it was reconsidering its energy options after a study revealed that Italian business was paying 20-30 per cent more that foreign businesses for its energy needs.

And UK prime minister Tony Blair has also signalled a 2006 review which is expected to contain proposals to develop a new generation of British nuclear power stations.

Germany, which is set to increase its energy dependency on Russia to 70 per cent, after a new Baltic sea pipeline is completed in 2025, is also looking again at nuclear energy’s role.

Germany’s coalition government is at odds with the previous administration’s commitment to phase out the country’s 19 nuclear power stations by 2020.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right is arguing for a revision of decommissioning plans, against strong opposition from the coalition’s socialist grouping.

However Merkel has promised to convene a special energy summit in March to thrash out a new German ‘national energy strategy’ where her supporters will be pressing for a rethink on the remaining nuclear power plants.

Both German and EU public opinion is however hostile, with opposition to nuclear power sitting at around 55-60 per cent.

But Roland Koch, the conservative state premier for Hesse, is pressing for an ideological rethink to objections to nuclear power, calling for Germany’s nuclear power programme to continue and for the federal government to consider building new plants.

“We need to keep that question open”, said Koch in an interview in the German paper Leipziger Volkszeitung on Monday, adding “This is a technological and economic question, not an ideological one.”

Koch’s comments echo the call of an influential group of MEPs, from across the political spectrum, who recently called for nuclear energy to play a more central role in Europe’s energy mix.

UK MEP, Terry Wynn said that EU leaders had to “get real” about the benefits of nuclear energy, while Finnish MEP Eija-Ritta Korhola said the EU should “respond to reality” by using nuclear power to its full potential.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the European Parliament’s influential industry, research and energy committee warned that the gas crisis was a “wake up call” for the EU.

“EU energy policy makers must aim for diversity of supplies and competitive markets as the best way to maintain security of supply,” said chairman, Giles Chichester on Monday.

But not all MEPs favour a revival of nuclear.  Green group energy spokesman, Claude Turmes accused the nuclear lobby of using the gas crisis to promote nuclear energy.

“After the hysteria of the last days, EU politicians should reflect on the conclusions that should be drawn,” said Turmes.

“Nuclear power in Europe is more dependent on imports than any other form of energy.  A large scale nuclear revival in an age of increased terrorism and geo-political instabilities would be the most insecure option”.

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