– This is not a yes to nuclear power in Norway, but a signal that we are no longer closing the door. In a long-term perspective, we must be able to assess all forms of power, says Storting representative Bård Ludvig Thorheim (H). – Nuclear power cannot be ruled out in Norway, he believes. Today, the Conservative Party is putting forward proposals for nuclear power in the Storting for the first time. The proposal comes at Erna Solberg’s initiative. The party will explore what prerequisites and needs Norway has for nuclear power up to 2050. At the same time, the Conservative Party wants Norway to take an active role in international research and development of new nuclear power technology. Høyre’s Bård Ludvig Thorheim believes there is a need to investigate the possibilities for nuclear power in Norway. Photo: Pål Hansen / news – We have good conditions for renewable power. At the same time, the Energy Commission says that we need far more power in Norway in the long term. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the possibilities for nuclear power in Norway, Thorheim asserts. This is the Conservative Party’s proposal: The Storting asks the government to ensure that Norway takes an active role in the international research and development of new nuclear power technology, including those related to thorium. The Storting asks the government to investigate what prerequisites and needs Norway has for nuclear power as part of the energy mix until 2050. The Storting asks the government to consider enrolling Norway as a member of the EU research program EuroFUSION. Proposers: Nikolai Astrup, Bård Ludvig Thorheim, Mathilde Tybring-Gjedde and Ove Trellevik. Erna Solberg’s initiative There has previously been complete discord about nuclear power in the Conservative Party. Despite warnings from party leader Erna Solberg, Høyre’s national meeting last year nevertheless agreed to investigate nuclear power in Norway. Ahead of the meeting, Solberg said at the time that it would have been a “declaration of bankruptcy” for Norway to go in favor of nuclear power. She thought there were other energy sources the country should rather utilize. Right-wing leader Erna Solberg ahead of the party’s national meeting last year. At the time, she thought it would have been a “declaration of bankruptcy” for Norway to go in favor of nuclear power. Photo: Torstein Bøe / NTB But now Solberg shows a more positive attitude. – I myself took the initiative for this proposal to be put forward in the Storting now, she writes in an SMS to news. She emphasizes that it is important that the Storting group follows up on what the Conservative Party’s national meeting has decided. – This is not a yes to nuclear power in Norway, but a yes to gathering more knowledge about prerequisites and needs. More knowledge is rarely wrong, writes Solberg. The Conservative leader points out that an important objection to nuclear power is that it will take a long time to build out. – The challenge now is to quickly realize large amounts of new renewable power production. Towards 2030, Høyre will primarily increase power production through wind, solar, water, energy efficiency and the grid. – This is what will help us the fastest, emphasizes Solberg. It is Erna Solberg herself who has taken the initiative to put forward proposals on nuclear power in the Storting. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news – Total derailment from the Conservative Party Lars Haltbrekken in SV is strongly critical of the proposals the Conservative Party is now putting forward. He sits on the energy and environment committee at the Storting. – I fear that the Conservative Party is now taking the first step in the direction of arranging nuclear power plants here. It should be out of the question, he says to news. Nuclear power is not a solution to the energy challenges Norway faces, Haltbrekken believes. Lars Haltbrekken in SV fears that the Conservative Party will now take the first step in the direction of facilitating nuclear power in Norway. Photo: n21857 / n21857 – It will take many decades before it can be realised. We must solve the climate crisis and cut emissions long before that can happen. Therefore, it is a total derailment from the Conservative Party to pursue the development of nuclear power in Norway. – The right-wing is primarily calling for more knowledge. Why is it not positive? – Norway has no expertise in this. Let’s rather use our resources and people on offshore wind and energy efficiency. Instead, the Conservative Party will use the money to investigate the possibilities for nuclear power in Norway. Frp rejoices As the first party in the Storting, the Frp recently opened up nuclear power in Norway. Now parliamentary representative Marius Arion Nilsen (Frp) is cheering for the Conservative Party’s proposal. – It would of course have been better if the Conservative Party had gone further, but here I sincerely welcome all positive initiatives in the field, he says. FRP’s Marius Arion Nilsen is satisfied that the Conservative Party is now putting forward proposals on nuclear power in the Storting. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB Nilsen believes that the government should now step in. – The governing parties should now really know their visiting time, and seriously consider nuclear power as one of the future solutions. Not relevant for the government But State Secretary Andreas Bjelland Eriksen (Ap) in the Ministry of Oil and Energy is not particularly positive about the Conservative Party’s nuclear power proposal. – I understand Høyre’s need to make a mark in the debate. But the proposal means in practice that we must lower the priority of work on improving the framework conditions for other forms of power that can contribute much more quickly, he says. Eriksen emphasizes that the government’s main focus is the development of new renewable energy. – Although we must follow international developments, it does not appear appropriate for the state to initiate major works with nuclear power now.
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– Nuclear power cannot be ruled out in Norway – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
