Report: Keeping Borssele nuclear plant open can cost €500 mil.

If electricity prices stay at their current level or decline further, losses suffered from the struggling Borssele nuclear plant can amount to 500 million euros, according to an investigation done by consultancy Spring Associates, ANP reports.

Only a doubling in the electricity prices would make it worthwhile to keep the plant running, according to the consultancy. They believe the best option is to close the nuclear power plant now and dismantle it later. This would keep the losses from increasing. The dismantling can happen once there is money for it.

According to Spring Associates, the same was done with the Dodewaard nuclear power plant. It was closed down and the costs for deconstruction were postponed indefinitely.

To keep Borssele running an investment of between 200 million and 350 million euros is necessary.

This investigation was done on behalf of environmental organization Greenpeace and Wise. Delta, the parent company of the plant, asked share holders and the government for financial aid to cope with expected operating losses in the coming years.