Nuclear Power Costs Worry the Government's Watchdog

The Fiscal Policy Council, the government's watchdog in economic policy, wants to see a broad political agreement on what nuclear power is allowed to cost the state treasury and how the money is to be allocated.

» Published: September 08 2024

Nuclear Power Costs Worry the Government's Watchdog
Photo: Christine Olsson/TT

Share this article

It's about "enormous amounts" that cannot be shaken out by making exceptions in the state's economic framework, according to the council's chairman Lars Heikensten and vice chairman Annica Sundén, who write on DN Debatt.

But if politicians agree that nuclear power is necessary to achieve things like climate transition, it's reasonable that it's financed by the state borrowing for it, according to the council, and the national debt increases. Then, the economic framework must be adapted to it, and politicians must weigh the costs against other pressing needs that the state treasury should cover.

The model proposed by the government's investigator on how new nuclear power should be paid for involves the state lending 300 billion kronor to those who want to build nuclear power. But there should be preparedness for loans of up to twice that, 600 billion kronor, according to the investigator.

"Most important is that no new exceptions are made from the framework. In the annual assessment of public finances, a financing of nuclear power must under all circumstances be included", write Heikensten and Sundén, and continue:

"All public expenditures and commitments must be weighed against each other, including nuclear power. Otherwise, we soon have no fiscal policy framework."

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

EU Faces Resistance Over New Mercosur Trade Agreement
3 MIN READ

EU Faces Resistance Over New Mercosur Trade Agreement

Polestar Faces $739 Million Write-Down Amid US Tariffs and Weak Demand
1 MIN READ

Polestar Faces $739 Million Write-Down Amid US Tariffs and Weak Demand

Mediation Institute Ends Efforts in Tesla-IF Metall Dispute
1 MIN READ

Mediation Institute Ends Efforts in Tesla-IF Metall Dispute

Two More Suspects Identified in Major Insider Trading Case
1 MIN READ

Two More Suspects Identified in Major Insider Trading Case

Ryanair's New Bonus Program Criticized by German Cabin Union
1 MIN READ

Ryanair's New Bonus Program Criticized by German Cabin Union

SEB Predicts Halved Food VAT Could Lower Prices and Inflation
2 MIN READ

SEB Predicts Halved Food VAT Could Lower Prices and Inflation

Swedish Service Sector Sees Fragile Recovery in August
1 MIN READ

Swedish Service Sector Sees Fragile Recovery in August

Boliden Leads Gains as Stockholm Stock Exchange Rises
1 MIN READ

Boliden Leads Gains as Stockholm Stock Exchange Rises

Air Travel Rises 5% in August as Swedavia Airports See Growth
1 MIN READ

Air Travel Rises 5% in August as Swedavia Airports See Growth

Nordea Predicts Interest Rate Hikes by 2027, Contrasts Danske Bank's Forecast
4 MIN READ

Nordea Predicts Interest Rate Hikes by 2027, Contrasts Danske Bank's Forecast

Klarna's New York IPO: Analyst Calls It a High-Risk Stock
3 MIN READ

Klarna's New York IPO: Analyst Calls It a High-Risk Stock

Stock Market Volatility Follows Xi's Speech Amid Military Parade
1 MIN READ

Stock Market Volatility Follows Xi's Speech Amid Military Parade

Google Retains Chrome in Partial Legal Victory
2 MIN READ

Google Retains Chrome in Partial Legal Victory

Wall Street Opens September with Losses Across Major Indexes
2 MIN READ

Wall Street Opens September with Losses Across Major Indexes

Saab Partners with Polish WB Group for Defense Collaboration
1 MIN READ

Saab Partners with Polish WB Group for Defense Collaboration

Two Companies Sue LKAB for 700 Million Kronor Over Mine Expansion
1 MIN READ

Two Companies Sue LKAB for 700 Million Kronor Over Mine Expansion

Klarna Heads to NY Stock Exchange but Swedish Small Investors Must Wait
2 MIN READ

Klarna Heads to NY Stock Exchange but Swedish Small Investors Must Wait

Klarna Plans New York Stock Exchange Listing with $13.6 Billion Valuation
3 MIN READ

Klarna Plans New York Stock Exchange Listing with $13.6 Billion Valuation

Kraft Heinz to Split into Two Separate Companies
1 MIN READ

Kraft Heinz to Split into Two Separate Companies

Euro Zone Inflation Rises to 2.1 Percent in August
1 MIN READ

Euro Zone Inflation Rises to 2.1 Percent in August