Nuclear energy in Norway

No nuclear power plant has ever been established in Norway; however, the country has a legal framework for licensing the construction and operation of nuclear installations.[1] Also, four research reactors have been built in Norway, the first was JEEP I which was operative from 1951 to 1966. As of 2019, Norway's now only remaining nuclear reactor left in operation, the Jeep II reactor at Kjeller, is shut down after more than 50 years of service.[2][3]

In 2020 it was estimated dismantling the Halden and Kjeller research reactors and restoring the sites to unrestricted use will cost about NOK20 billion (US$2 billion) and take 20 to 25 years.[4]

There has been discussions about the possible usage of nuclear energy, which is supported by some industry leaders.[5] Statkraft together with Vattenfall, Fortum and the energy investment company Scatec announced plans to investigate building of a thorium-fueled power plant in 2007 which was never realized.[6] In 2010, Aker Solutions purchased patents from Nobel Prize winning physicist Carlo Rubbia for the design of a proton accelerator-based thorium nuclear power plant,[7] but was subsequently sold to Jacobs Engineering Group in 2011.[8] In late 2012, Norway's privately owned Thor Energy, in collaboration with the government and Westinghouse, announced a four-year trial using thorium in an existing nuclear reactor.[9]