Applications for general licences suspended

On 14 March 2011 Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard suspended the applications for general licences for the replacement nuclear power plants in Beznau and Mühleberg due to the recent events in Japan. Axpo supports this measure, given the gravity of these events. Until all the facts are known about the nuclear accident and the reasons for the system failures, the application process for general licences cannot be continued.

Axpo is well aware that the events in Japan will also influence the debate about Switzerland’s future energy policy. The question has arisen as to whether it is responsible to continue planning the replacement of existing Swiss nuclear power plants after what has happened in Japan. Axpo will only be able to give a definitive answer to this question when detailed knowledge is available from Japan about the reasons for the system failures.