The Netherlands needs to reach a clearer position on the future role of nuclear power in the country's energy mix, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a review released on Monday, according to Reuters. The Dutch government has agreed not to take any decisions on new nuclear power plants during its term, which runs until 2011, but the IEA said policy decisiveness should be a priority. "Putting the decision off until after 2011, while leaving time to build consensus, also leaves uncertainty about a technology that requires significant lead time to be planned, built and go online," the IEA, energy adviser to 28 industrialised countries, said in its review. "The IEA urges the government to come to a clearer position as early as possible, using the time to 2011 to create the necessary regulatory framework to allow for a timely decision to be taken." The Netherlands has only one active nuclear power plant, in Borssele, which is due to remain operational until 2033. The cabinet has agreed that no new nuclear power plants will be built during its term, although debate about the future of nuclear power was reignited last year as Dutch utility Delta said it would apply for a permit to build a new plant. The IEA also highlighted the cost-effective contribution nuclear power could make to meeting greenhouse gas emissions targets. "The nuclear power option should be part of a solution for energy security as well as for the climate change challenge. This option must be open," Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the IEA said during a news conference. Dutch Economy Minister Maria van der Hoeven noted that nuclear power was already part of the Netherlands' energy mix due to the contribution of Borssele and the government was still thinking about it despite the coalition agreement. "We are working on a number of scenarios about our future energy mix and nuclear energy is part of those scenarios," Van der Hoeven said. The IEA review also said that the Netherlands' aim to gain 20 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020 would be challenging, given that they account for less than 3 percent at present. It commended the ambitious targets, which also include a plan for a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 from 1990 levels, but said the country needed to focus more on implementing policies and measures to achieve them.
