The Government proposes more possible coastal sites for new nuclear power in Sweden
Published
Expanding nuclear power will play a crucial role in enabling Sweden to reduce its domestic climate emissions and achieve the goal of net zero emissions. The Government proposes amendments to the Swedish Environmental Code that will permit new nuclear power plants on more coastal sites. Under the proposals, protection of natural and cultural heritage will be maintained. The proposed legislative amendments are now the subject of a consultation.
The Government is continuing to create the conditions for new nuclear power and thereby laying the foundations for an effective climate transition that drives Sweden forwards. To strengthen the power system and meet society’s need for fossil-free electricity where and when it is needed, it is now proposed that it be permissible to construct nuclear facilities along the entire Swedish coast. Under this proposal, the current prohibition on establishing new nuclear facilities in certain coastal areas will be removed.
“Nuclear facilities must be located on sites with adequate conditions. The current prohibition rules out sites that could be suitable, without any option for an individual evaluation in the specific case. The legislative amendments would create conditions for more actors looking to construct and invest in coastal nuclear facilities,” says Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari.
“To ensure strong growth, more jobs and the green transition, investments in a robust and fossil-free base load are needed. Investments in new reactors will be responsibly safeguarded so as to protect taxpayers and the public purse. With new nuclear power, we can move away from volatile electricity prices with high price spikes that affect households and businesses,” says Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman.
“The interest and necessity of building new nuclear power is considerable not only in Sweden but globally. This proposal makes it possible to take responsibility for Sweden’s resilience and security of supply, thereby also pushing electricity prices down, particularly in southern Sweden,” says Camilla Brodin, group leader and energy policy spokesperson for the Christian Democrats.
“The Tidö parties are continuing to tear down the legal obstacles and barriers to new nuclear power left behind by previous governments. We see the need – and conditions – for new nuclear power throughout the country, and this means that we cannot persist with previous restrictions and prohibitions,” says chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Industry and Trade Tobias Andersson, speaking on behalf of the Sweden Democrats.
The legislative amendments would not affect the permit process for nuclear facilities, but replacing the prohibition in the Swedish Environmental Code with a permit process would allow the protection of natural and cultural heritage in coastal areas to be maintained while opening up possibilities to construct nuclear facilities on additional sites that are deemed suitable.
The memorandum Ny kärnkraft i Sverige – fler möjliga platser vid kusten (‘New nuclear power in Sweden – more possible coastal sites’) is now subject to a consultation in which stakeholders will be invited to give their views of the proposal.
Coastal areas affected by the proposal
The memorandum Ny kärnkraft i Sverige – fler möjliga platser vid kusten (‘New nuclear power in Sweden – more possible coastal sites’) contains proposals to permit the expansion of nuclear power within both ‘intact’ and ‘highly developed’ coastal areas while maintaining the protection of natural and cultural heritage.
Currently applicable prohibitions and restrictions on constructing nuclear facilities are found in Chapter 4, Sections 3 and 4 of the Swedish Environmental Code.
The proposed amendments would remove the prohibition on nuclear activities in the coastal areas and archipelagos in Bohuslän province from the Norwegian border to Brofjorden, in Småland and Östergötland provinces from Simpevarp to Arkösund, in Ångermanland province from Storfjärden at the mouth of the Ångermanälv river to Skagsudde, and on the island of Öland.
The amendments would also remove the prohibition on nuclear facilities in the coastal areas and archipelagos from Brofjorden to Simpevarp and from Arkösund to Forsmark, along the coast of Gotland, on Östergarn and Storsudret in Gotland, and on Fårö on sites other than those with existing facilities.
The amendments would have no effect on the permit process for nuclear facilities.
It is proposed that these amendments enter into force on 1 July 2026.
The proposal is now subject to consultation and responses can be submitted no later than 15 December 2025.
The proposed amendments concern all nuclear facilities covered by the Government’s permissibility examination under the Swedish Environmental Code. This means all nuclear power reactors, research reactors, facilities for final disposal or other storage of nuclear fuel, and facilities for management, processing, storage or final disposal of nuclear waste.
Press contact
Press Secretary to Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari
Phone (switchboard) +46 8 405 10 00
Mobile +46 76 110 17 63
email to Thea Andersson
Press Secretary to Deputy Minister for Finance, Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman
Phone (switchboard) +46 8 405 10 00
Mobile +46 76 137 89 04
email to Victoria Ericsson
