Last week, Vattenfall (ENS Corporate Member) announced that it is seeking approval from local authorities to develop a detailed plan for the construction of new nuclear power reactors near the existing Ringhals nuclear power plant, in western Sweden.

Vattenfall already owns most of the land west of Ringhals, where it operates two PWR units dating back to the early 1980s.

The application for the new reactors necessitates a detailed plan, and Vattenfall is applying for a planning notice from Varberg municipality.

The company aims to have these new reactors in operation in the early 2030s. Therefore, Vattenfall has initiated property purchases in the area designated for electricity production and cogeneration.

However, the final investment decision will only be made once all required permits are obtained. Vattenfall said it had begun work on an environmental impact statement (EIS) for new nuclear.

The company did not say what reactor type or capacity it is planning, but had said earlier that the EIS work falls within the framework of a preliminary study on small modular reactors at Ringhals and includes field studies and ground surveys in the area around Ringhals.