Swedish Government Emboldening The Establishment Of New Nuclear Power.

Stockholm; March 2026: The Swedish government has decided on three bills with proposals – that will make it easier to establish New Nuclear Power in Sweden. These include more possible locations for nuclear power on the coast, a more appropriate assessment, and what is meant by a nuclear facility.

The proposals in the bills aim to facilitate the expansion of new nuclear power in Sweden and thereby an effective climate transition. The government’s decision includes changes to the Environmental Code that will allow for new nuclear power in more locations along the coast. The legislative amendment removes the prohibitions that prevent the testing of new nuclear power in locations that could be suitable.

Johan Britz, Acting Minister of Climate and Environment has said: “We are now taking further steps from decommissioning to developing nuclear power. With today’s decision, we are opening the way for more players, both old and new, large and small, to invest in new nuclear power and in more locations around the country. When more companies are given the opportunity to build new nuclear power, we strengthen competition and innovation in the energy sector, which is good for both the climate and jobs”.

In addition, the Minister have asserted that: “several legislative amendments are proposed to make the assessment of new nuclear facilities more effective. One of the proposals is a new law that enables an earlier position on new nuclear facilities from the government and the municipalities concerned compared to the current system. Another proposal is that it should be possible to obtain a binding advance decision on technical issues to make the permit assessment more efficient. Finally, amendments are also proposed that enable the restart of shut-down reactors and that a facility for extraction and processing for concentration of extracted nuclear materials should no longer be considered a nuclear facility”.

Niklas Wykman, Minister of Financial Markets have affirmed: “With a robust financing model in place, we are now removing regulatory obstacles. This enables a fresh start for Swedish nuclear power. It is good for both households and companies”.

Ebba Busch, Minister of Energy and Enterprise has said: “The government is systematically paving the way for more baseload power and lower prices for consumers. The legislative changes create better conditions for new nuclear power, provide simpler permit processes and enable more nuclear power in more locations”.

Tobias Andersson, Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee in his speech has said: The nuclear power renaissance continues and the TIDO parties continue to deliver in the area. With these bills, we reduce obstacles to the nuclear power race and make the processes for new nuclear power plants simpler and more efficient”.

The Swedish government’s decision to submit the proposals to the Riksdag in 03 bills will ensure that the legislation does not constitute an obstacle to expanded nuclear power and that it will be easier to establish new nuclear power in Sweden. The new approval law may be applied to applications for new nuclear power submitted after 10 March 2026. The legislative amendments for a more effective permit review are proposed to enter into force on 17 June 2026 and the other legislative amendments on 15 July 2026.

The government also proposes that it should be possible to obtain a binding advance decision on technical issues in order to streamline the permit review process. This means that those who intend to apply for a permit can find out at an early stage whether a technical solution meets the necessary requirements. The government is also implementing changes that will enable the restart of shut-down reactors.

Nuclear power in more locations along the coast: The Government has decided to submit a legislative proposal for amendments to the Environmental Code that would allow for new nuclear power in more locations along the coast. The amendment removes the prohibitions that prevent the testing of new nuclear power in locations that could be suitable. This is an important part of the Government’s work to ensure that legislation does not constitute an obstacle to social development and climate change, while maintaining the protection of natural and cultural values.

The proposals in the legislative council’s referral aim to facilitate the expansion of new nuclear power in Sweden and thereby an effective climate transition. Today’s ban excludes locations that could be suitable for new nuclear power without a case-by-case assessment. The proposed amendments replace the bans with a case-by-case assessment, which means that the protection of natural and cultural values ​​can be maintained. The amendments do not affect the permit assessment of nuclear facilities in general.

More money for municipal feasibility studies for new nuclear power: The government has decided that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will allocate 20 million kronor to municipalities that want to conduct feasibility studies for new nuclear power. This is a doubling compared to last year. The purpose of the grant is to prepare for and shorten the review periods for the permit processes for the establishment of new nuclear power.

The feasibility studies should help bring the municipalities closer to a decision on the establishment of a nuclear facility in the municipality. The feasibility studies may, for example, focus on skills provision to facilitate dialogue with companies planning to establish a nuclear facility in the municipality. They may also be related to physical planning, progress and coordination of processes.

The government has previously decided on a total of SEK 15 million to municipalities for processes with new nuclear power during the years 2024 and 2025.

The government is now increasing the possibility of state co-financing for municipalities’ feasibility studies to SEK 20 million annually until 2030 to provide more long-term conditions for the work of preparing for new nuclear power.

Coastal areas affected by the proposal: The legislative council’s report New nuclear power in Sweden with more possible locations on the coast proposes that the ban on nuclear facilities in coastal areas and archipelagos where there is currently a ban be removed.

• The amendments aim to enable the expansion of nuclear power in more locations on the coast, while maintaining the protection of natural and cultural values.

• The current bans and restrictions on the construction of nuclear facilities are set out in Chapter 4, Sections 3 and 4 of the Environmental Code. Nuclear facilities refer to nuclear reactors, research reactors, facilities for final disposal or other storage of nuclear fuel and facilities for handling, processing, storage or final disposal of nuclear material and nuclear waste.

• The proposed amendments mean that the ban on nuclear facilities in the coastal areas and archipelagos in Bohuslän from the border with Norway to Brofjorden, in Småland and Östergötland from Simpevarp to Arkösund and in Ångermanland from Storfjärden at the mouth of the Ångermanälven to Skagsudde and on Öland is lifted.

• The proposed amendments also mean that the ban on nuclear facilities in the coastal areas and archipelagos from Brofjorden to Simpevarp and from Arkösund to Forsmark, along the Gotland coast, on Östergarn and Storsudret on Gotland and on Fårö in places other than where certain industrial and similar facilities already exist is lifted.

• The amendments do not affect the review of nuclear facilities in general. This means that a review in the individual case will continue to be required before a nuclear facility can be built.

• The amendments are proposed to enter into force on 15 July 2026.

• The proposed amendments apply to all nuclear facilities that are subject to the government’s permit review pursuant to Chapter 17, Section 1, of the Environmental Code.

Team Maverick.