12/09/2004
Vattenfall’s brown power plans reined in by Swedish Government
STOCKHOLM/ BERLIN, Tageszeitung, 7 December 2004 – The Swedish Government has ordered the state owned company Vattenfall to invest profits made from its German coal power operations into Swedish wind energy and clean technology developments. Further more, under new directives agreed by Swedish coalition parties, the energy giant Vattenfall would be prohibited to build and buy new coal power or nuclear power plants in the future.
Sweden is lagging behind other European energy markets and generates currently only 0,05 TWh from wind energy. Göran Dandanell, Business Development Director at Vattenfall, said: “It is time to follow the lead of advanced wind power markets in Germany, Spain or Denmark.” The unexpected decision followed bogged attempts by Vattenfall to lobby the European Commission and EU Parliament for more nuclear power. The Swedish Trade Minister, Sven-Eric Söder, described these lobbying activities as „entirely inappropriate“.
Ralph Kappler, of Halo Energy, comments: "Two years ago Halo Energy introduced sustainable alternatives to brown power in the German Lusatia mining region, engaging also with Vattenfall in an agile campaign.
Ironically, it is the Swedish Government that has now put the breaks on the relentless exploitation of Lusatia, the devastated home of Germany's oldest ethnic minority, the Sorbs. It remains to be seen if hundred thousands of resettled German and Sorbian people are prepared to pay the exorbitant price for the modernization of energy supplies in Vattenfall’s Swedish home market."
Vattenfall was ranked as one of Europe’s worst polluters in the latest WWF report, mainly due to its heavy involvement in East German coal mining operations.
Sweden is lagging behind other European energy markets and generates currently only 0,05 TWh from wind energy. Göran Dandanell, Business Development Director at Vattenfall, said: “It is time to follow the lead of advanced wind power markets in Germany, Spain or Denmark.” The unexpected decision followed bogged attempts by Vattenfall to lobby the European Commission and EU Parliament for more nuclear power. The Swedish Trade Minister, Sven-Eric Söder, described these lobbying activities as „entirely inappropriate“.
Ralph Kappler, of Halo Energy, comments: "Two years ago Halo Energy introduced sustainable alternatives to brown power in the German Lusatia mining region, engaging also with Vattenfall in an agile campaign.
Ironically, it is the Swedish Government that has now put the breaks on the relentless exploitation of Lusatia, the devastated home of Germany's oldest ethnic minority, the Sorbs. It remains to be seen if hundred thousands of resettled German and Sorbian people are prepared to pay the exorbitant price for the modernization of energy supplies in Vattenfall’s Swedish home market."
Vattenfall was ranked as one of Europe’s worst polluters in the latest WWF report, mainly due to its heavy involvement in East German coal mining operations.
- Source:
- Halo Energy
