Swedish Utility Suing Germany Over Closure Of Brunsbüttel & Krümmel Nuclear Power Plants
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Originally published on Planetsave.
According to World Nuclear News, the Swedish utility Vattenfall is suing Germany at the Washington-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes concerning the closure of the Brunsbüttel and Krümmel nuclear power plants.
As announced by Vattenfall on October 10:
“The hearing on Vattenfall’s claim against the Federal Republic of Germany at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, ICSID, in Washington, is to start on Monday at 10:00 am local time and will be streamed via this link. The hearing will end on Friday 21 October.”
The suit follows the German government’s decision to withdraw from nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi accident.
WNN has reported the utility spokesman Magnus Kryssare declined to confirm German media reports that the Swedish company is seeking €4.7 billion ($6 billion) in damages.
“Based on the confidentiality rules that apply for the process, Vattenfall cannot give any comments regarding the size of the compensation,” Kryssare told World Nuclear News today.
Following the Fukushima accident in March 2011, the government of German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the withdrawal of the operating licenses of eight German nuclear power plants, which included Vattenfall’s Brunsbüttel and Krümmel units.
“We believe that we can show those countries who decide to abandon nuclear power — or not to start using it — how it is possible to achieve growth, creating jobs and economic prosperity while shifting the energy supply toward renewable energies,” said Merkel, a prominent researcher in quantum chemistry before entering politics.
In the meantime, Sweden’s newly formed coalition government has said it wants this energy powerhouse to quit its expansion of nuclear power in the country.
Even facing widespread opposition to nuclear energy, the Vattenfall website states, “Nuclear power plays a vital role in many European countries due to its security of supply and low CO2 emissions.”
Rest assured, this utility will continue fighting for nuclear.
Image via Vattenfall
Reprinted with permission.
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