Switzerland may soon lift the ban on building new nuclear power plants, which has been in place since January 1, 2018, as part of the country’s “Energy Strategy 2050.” The decision to prohibit new construction came in the wake of strong political and social pressures following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan in March 2011. Just a few months later, the Swiss parliament and government resolved to gradually phase out nuclear power.
However, circumstances have changed. The country’s four nuclear reactors, which remain active and operational, currently provide around one-third of Switzerland’s electricity, and are allowed to run as long as they are deemed safe, according to World Nuclear News. Yet, the growth in consumption—driven by electrification, digitalization, and the development of artificial intelligence—raises doubts about the sustainability of the current energy mix.
The most significant turning point came in 2024, when voters approved the popular initiative “Electricity for All at All Times.” This enshrined into the constitution the requirement that electricity supply must be permanent and guaranteed, while production must meet climate goals. In practice, this opened the door to nuclear power once again, as it is a low-carbon source capable of providing stable energy supply.
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In response, the Federal Council proposed an indirect counterproposal—rather than amending the constitution, it called for changes to the Nuclear Energy Act. These changes would remove the ban on issuing permits for new reactors or modifications to existing plants, thereby reopening the licensing process. While there are still no concrete plans for new construction, the proposal itself represents a major political shift: Switzerland, which decided in 2011 to phase out nuclear power, is now acknowledging that it cannot rely solely on renewables and imported electricity.
If parliament adopts the legislative changes, it will mark the most significant reversal in Swiss energy policy since Fukushima. After more than a decade of restrictive measures, the country would once again be open to considering new nuclear capacity.
Energy Portal
