Switzerland is set to reverse its ban on building new nuclear power stations as part of a broader strategy to bolster energy security in the face of growing geopolitical challenges. The Swiss government announced on Wednesday that it plans to submit a proposal to amend the country's nuclear legislation by the end of 2024, allowing for parliamentary debate in the following year.
Energy Minister Albert Roesti emphasized the importance of retaining nuclear energy as an option for ensuring a stable energy supply, particularly during times of geopolitical uncertainty. "Over the long term, new nuclear power plants are one possible way of making our supply more secure in a geopolitically uncertain time," Roesti stated during a press conference. He added that future generations might view the failure to consider this option as a significant oversight.
Switzerland had decided to phase out its use of nuclear energy following the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. In 2017, Swiss voters approved a government-backed plan that included a ban on constructing new nuclear power stations. The country began implementing this plan, shutting down the Muehleberg nuclear power station at the end of 2019, leaving three active nuclear stations.
Roesti also addressed Switzerland's efforts to combat climate change, asserting that the government is fulfilling its environmental commitments. This statement comes in response to an April ruling by the European Court, which ordered Switzerland to enhance its climate actions. However, KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz, the group behind the court case, along with Greenpeace, rejected Roesti's claims, arguing that the country continues to fall short of its climate obligations.
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