RPT-Barroso says nuclear energy can aid climate,security

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By Martin Dokoupil and Jan Korselt

PRAGUE May 22 (Reuters) - Nuclear energy is a low-carbon source that may help Europe in fighting climate change and raise energy security, the head of the bloc's executive Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, said on Thursday.

Barroso said nuclear power was one of the cheapest carbon-free power sources, but safety must remain of paramount concern when it is used.

"Nuclear energy can of course make a major contribution to this battle against climate change," Barroso said at the European Nuclear Energy Forum, which opened in Prague on Thursday.

"Nuclear energy also helps to enhance EU's security of energy supplies and it increases diversification of our energy sources and reduces our dependence on imported gas," he said at the forum attended by top central European government officials and energy executives from around the EU.

A number of European Union countries have been turning in favour of building new nuclear power stations to meet growing energy demands and the need to cut carbon dioxide emissions blamed for global warming.

But the EU has largely avoided giving guidance on the issue, given opposition in some member-states, such as the fiercely anti-nuclear Austria.

On the flip side, countries such as France use nuclear power as a source of 78 percent of its electricity, while Britain is eyeing expansion beyond its current 19 percent, and a number of former communist new member-states plan to raise their nuclear power generating capacity.

The European Commission largely skirted the controversial issue in January when it unveiled a package of measures aimed at combating climate change.

Barroso said it was up to the individual member states to decide on how they used nuclear energy.

He said: "Honestly, one cannot say if our 2020 goals include nuclear (energy) ... certainly such ambitious targets for greenhouse gas solutions create a great opportunity for all carbon-free sources including nuclear energy."

The EU aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions to at least 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, but by then many of its existing nuclear power stations, which have virtually no emissions, will have closed.

To encourage new investment in nuclear power, the European Commission is examining ways to streamline licensing and financing. (Writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Ben Tan)