| Volvo has recently announced that its | | | | "We are not prepared to say that we should |
| truck-making business has signed an energy | | | | expand nuclear energy. What we are prepared |
| supply contract with utility Vattenfall. The | | | | to say, however, is that we believe that it |
| contract specified that none of the company's | | | | would be favourable if we dared to again take |
| electricity will be generated from nuclear | | | | a look and seriously investigate the |
| power plants by 2008. | | | | conditions for the future of nuclear energy |
| | | | against the background of the technology |
| According to Volvo's environmental chief Inge | | | | development that has occurred since the |
| Horkeby, the nuclear energy is not in line | | | | referendum in 1980. There has not been any |
| with the company's environmental goals. She | | | | new thinking about nuclear energy in Sweden |
| told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, "We place | | | | since then," it continued. |
| nuclear energy far down the scale. It's not | | | | |
| sustainable from a number of aspects." | | | | Since the 1970s, Volvo holds environmental |
| | | | consideration as one of its core values. The |
| "The raw materials used to produce nuclear | | | | company has said that its long-term |
| energy are a finite resource and the waste | | | | objectives included the increase in use of |
| management problem has not been solved," she | | | | the carbon dioxide-neutral energy, the |
| added. | | | | reduction of energy consumption by 50% per |
| | | | manufactured unit and the no longer use of |
| In contrast however, a position statement on | | | | coal or oil for heating. |
| Volvo's website said, "Volvo is not opposed | | | | |
| to nuclear energy… Taking into account | | | | Volvo also stated its goals in powering all |
| the climate issue, our view is that nuclear | | | | of its worldwide plants with the use of |
| energy is needed in the energy system - | | | | renewable energy sources. The company said |
| perhaps even more nuclear power than today." | | | | that its truck plant in Ghent, Belgium, is |
| | | | actually the world's first vehicle factory to |
| Under the agreement between Volvo and | | | | be totally carbon dioxide-free. Most of the |
| Vattenfall, only Sweden is covered. The | | | | plant's energy is being supplied by onsite |
| Swedish automaker said, "We have agreed on | | | | wind turbines and a biomass production |
| receiving renewable energy - nuclear energy | | | | facility. Some electricity is being provided |
| is not renewable. The reason we made this | | | | by Electrabel from renewable sources. At |
| demand is to help bring other alternative | | | | present, the plant produces 40,000 truck |
| energy sources to the market. Accordingly, | | | | units (equipped with quality Volvo floor mats |
| the aim of the agreement is not to eliminate | | | | and other genuine parts) annually. |
| nuclear energy but to choose alternatives in | | | | |
| an effort to increase the availability of | | | | Volvo Trucks' Europe Division President Claes |
| renewable energy on the market." Thus, the | | | | Nilsson said, "We are fully aware of the |
| company is still eager to continue the use of | | | | environmental problems we have in the world |
| nuclear-generated electricity outside Sweden. | | | | today and we're working to reduce emissions |
| | | | of carbon dioxide in both fixed facilities |
| Volvo said, in its statement, "We would like | | | | and from vehicles." |
| to see that a parliamentary commission is | | | | |
| appointed with the mission of investigating | | | | "However, for practical and economic reasons |
| what the conditions are for continued use of | | | | it is simpler to make a factory |
| nuclear power - particularly taking into | | | | carbon-dioxide free, something we achieved |
| account the fourth-generation." | | | | within a period of two years. |
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