The shareholders of the Ringhals nuclear power plant in Sweden, namely Vattenfall (70.4%) and E.ON (29.6%), have reached an agreement to shut down two reactors, due to lowering electricity prices and rising production costs in the coming years.
The decision was announced by Vattenfall in April 2015 and required the approval of E.ON (30% stake in the plant), which was contesting the early closure. The Ringhals-1 and 2 nuclear reactors, rated 881 MW and 807 MW, respectively, were commissioned in 1975 and 1976 and were expected to be decommissioned around 2025. Ringhals-2 is expected to close in 2019 and Ringhals-1 in 2020.
Vattenfall's five other nuclear reactors Ringhals 3 and 4 (1,063 MW and 1,115 MW, respectively), and Forsmark 1, 2 and 3 (984 MW, 1,120 MW and 1,170 MW, respectively) will be operated for at least 60 years, until the early 2040s. In addition, investment plans for units 3 and 4 at Ringhals will not be affected.
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