Greeks say no to nuclear power in recent survey
The majority of Greeks are opposed to the introduction of nuclear power, despite agreeing that it provides a way for the country to reduce its dependency on oil, according to the results of a Eurobarometer survey made public yesterday. Almost 80 percent of Greeks said that they oppose nuclear energy, compared with an average of 45 percent in the EU that said ‘no’ to the power source. Greeks sided with Cypriots and Austrians while Lithuanians, Hungarians, Bulgarians and Swedes were among those that supported nuclear power. The Greek government has repeatedly said it will not introduce nuclear power in the country but the debate has been continuously growing, especially since a number of its neighbors, such as Turkey and Albania, are considering the construction of nuclear power stations. Soaring international oil prices have also raised concerns about Greece’s power supplies since the country remains highly dependent on oil imports. Greece has also failed to develop renewable energy means as it still relies on lignite-powered power stations. Official data shows that one-third of the EU’s electrical power is supplied by nuclear plants. There are 15 power stations operating in the EU, including in Britain, France, Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Holland, Bulgaria and Romania. The Eurobarometer survey also found that 57 percent of Greeks believe that nuclear power will help the country reduce its oil dependency while more than seven in ten admitted to not knowing anything about nuclear power as an energy source.
