The Swiss government suspended the approvals process for three new nuclear power stations in March pending a review into safety after the disaster at Japan's Fukushima plant.
Last weekend 20,000 people rallied against nuclear power -- the largest demonstration of its kind since the 1980s.
On Thursday, the Swiss cabinet agreed to build no more nuclear reactors once the current power plants reach the end of their lifespan, with the oldest set to come offline in 2019, while the newest would remain in operation until 2034.
'Existing nuclear power plants will be closed at the end of their operative life and not replaced by new nuclear power plants,' the government said in a statement.
The decision is likely to please business groups who had warned that a premature shut down of Switzerland's nuclear reactors could lead to higher electricity costs and negatively impact the country's energy-hungry manufacturing sector.
But the delay will anger the Greens and the Social Democrats (SP) who had called for nuclear reactors to be closed earlier.
Swiss utility companies Axpo, Alpiq and BKW had expressed an interest in building new nuclear plants and decisions on sites had been expected in mid-2012.
Switzerland plays a pivotal role in central European power markets. Its five nuclear plants -- which produces 40 percent of the Alpine state's electricity -- serves as a basis while its big hydropower sector supplies neighbours in years with high water supply but necessitates imports in dry years.
Neighbouring Germany is due to vote on its expected exit from nuclear power on June 6 and is expected to back a shut down of all its nuclear reactors within a decade.
(Reporting by Caroline Copley; Editing by Angus MacSwan) ((Zurich newsroom +41 58 306 7340, fax 41 44 251 0476, zurich.newsroom@reuters.com))
Keywords: SWISS/NUCLEAR
* Switzerland to phase out nuclear power
* Last reactor to come offline in 2034
* No new replacement reactors to be built
* Opposition had called for earlier exit
(Adds details, background)
ZURICH, May 25 (Reuters) - The Swiss government decided on Wednesday to phase out nuclear power by 2034 after the Japan disaster shook public confidence in the industry, but said it will not shut any existing power plants prematurely.
The Swiss government suspended the approvals process for three new nuclear power stations in March pending a review into safety after the disaster at Japan's Fukushima plant.
Last weekend 20,000 people rallied against nuclear power -- the largest demonstration of its kind since the 1980s.
On Thursday, the Swiss cabinet agreed to build no more nuclear reactors once the current power plants reach the end of their lifespan, with the oldest set to come offline in 2019, while the newest would remain in operation until 2034.
'Existing nuclear power plants will be closed at the end of their operative life and not replaced by new nuclear power plants,' the government said in a statement.
The decision is likely to please business groups who had warned that a premature shut down of Switzerland's nuclear reactors could lead to higher electricity costs and negatively impact the country's energy-hungry manufacturing sector.
But the delay will anger the Greens and the Social Democrats (SP) who had called for nuclear reactors to be closed earlier.
Swiss utility companies Axpo, Alpiq and BKW had expressed an interest in building new nuclear plants and decisions on sites had been expected in mid-2012.
Switzerland plays a pivotal role in central European power markets. Its five nuclear plants -- which produces 40 percent of the Alpine state's electricity -- serves as a basis while its big hydropower sector supplies neighbours in years with high water supply but necessitates imports in dry years.
Neighbouring Germany is due to vote on its expected exit from nuclear power on June 6 and is expected to back a shut down of all its nuclear reactors within a decade.
(Reporting by Caroline Copley; Editing by Angus MacSwan) Keywords: SWISS/NUCLEAR (Zurich newsroom +41 58 306 7340, fax 41 44 251 0476, zurich.newsroom@reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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