Austria digs in its heels on its opposition to nuclear power while its neighbors build-out.
After media reports surfaced that the Czech Republic was moving through with plans to construct new nuclear reactors near the Austrian border, the government declared it would maintain its long-held anti-nuclear position against its neighbors.
Anti-nuclear sentiment in Austria is among Europe’s strongest, and the country’s lone nuclear power plant was never put into service. In response to the European Commission’s decision to classify nuclear power as “green” under the EU sustainable finance taxonomy, Vienna has filed suit against the EU.
According to 1, Green Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler has declared that the government will continue to build its anti-nuclear position toward neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, neighboring Czechia has six nuclear reactors running, supplying around 37% of the country’s electrical needs. Despite a predicted overall increase in electricity demand, the government wants to have nuclear produce half of the country’s electricity in roughly 20 years.
The Czech government is putting a lot of faith in small modular reactors, or nuclear power facilities, to help them accomplish their ambitious nuclear expansion goals (SMRs). No SMRs have been built, so they are still years away from being available for purchase.
Austria’s third-largest city of Linz is about 100 kilometers from Temelin, where the Czech Republic is considering building two conventional reactors.
The mayor of a border town, Anita Gstöttenmayr, has remarked that the reactors may be seen from certain vantage points since “Temelin is only about 50 kilometers away from the center of our village.” Something is being “simply considered or decided” without us knowing, she said.
Anti-nuclear Cities in Austria are now threatening to take the issue to the streets through protests and street blockages.
“I know it sounds dumb, but we will have to take to the streets again to make a difference,” the mayor continued.
