Swiss Say Nuclear Plants Are Economically Viable for 80 Years

Switzerland said its nuclear power plants in Goesgen and Leibstadt can profitably run for as long as 80 years, two decades beyond previous projections.

“The investments required for technical upgrades to ensure the long-term operation are likely to be economically viable, based on realistic assumptions regarding electricity price trends and costs,” government officials said in a statement on Wednesday. The two plants were opened in 1979 and 1984, respectively.

The Goesgen Nuclear Power Plant near Daeniken, Switzerland.

Photographer: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

The findings come in a government report, which said the operation of existing nuclear plants, alongside the expansion of renewable energy, can reduce Switzerland’s import dependency during winter and ...