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Sweden raps Vattenfall over recent scandals

Published: 23 Jul 09 09:34 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20858/20090723/

Following a wave of scandals surrounding Vattenfall, the Swedish government has demanded concrete measures be taken by the board of the state-owned nuclear operator.

“Vattenfall has deficiencies in its processes and its follow-up. As a state owner and on behalf of the Swedish people, we are seriously concerned about the situation and that it is damaging the company,” Ola Alterå, state secretary at the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications (Näringsdepartementet), told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper.

Alterå said that although the Swedish government ultimately has confidence in Vattenfall, there remains a lot of work ahead for the board.

The required measures include restoring brand confidence, improving the security culture, create a focus on profitability as well as play a leading role in the changeover to renewable energy in order to help the European Union (EU) meet its climate goals by the year 2020.

Alterå added that these goals are closely interrelated.

On Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised Vattenfall over a series of problems at Krümmel, an ageing reactor near Hamburg that has become an issue in the German elections.

Earlier this month, nuclear officials ruled to place Vattenfall's Ringhals plant in southwestern Sweden under observation following several security-related incidents.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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10:24 July 23, 2009 by conboy
Since privatisation and no longer being able to suck from the tit of the tax payer plus despite radically increased electricity prices Vattenfall still cannor find their own backsides in a dark room. The Social Democrat inspired sell out of Vattenfall to the private sector is a classic example of internal Swedish corruption. Washington consensus policies of selling off utilities to "the holy market" does not woork in the uS and certainly does not work in Europe. Amusing to see the conservatives crying over spilled milk now. Do people really still believe that profit driven stock exchange concerns have any interest in safe maintenance of nuclear reactors? This is just the lead in to requests for a state hand out to badly run businesses. Free market my ass!
11:13 July 23, 2009 by skane refugee
... well at least the Germans/Angela Merkel can take commfort that Vatenfall are equally incompetent in Sweden ... and are not simply discriminating against foreigners ;o)
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