Sweden’s Preparedness: Reviving an Old Power Plant as a Defense Measure Amidst Tensions with Russia

The red brick building with its gray cooling towers in Malmö’s northern harbor is a symbol of Sweden’s preparation for an uncertain future. This decommissioned power plant, located near Juutinrauma beach, was supposed to be dismantled and transferred abroad to new ownership. However, the war in Ukraine changed Sweden’s defense policy and forced the country to reassess the security of its energy production.

Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, is closer to St. Petersburg than Berlin, and Sweden, with a population of 10 million, has been on alert since Russia annexed Crimea ten years ago. Now Sweden has a Russian president who has become more and more daring as a neighbor Vladimir Putin, but the newest member of the defense alliance NATO says it must be prepared if some kind of conflict spreads through the Baltics.

The Swedish grid operator wants to return the power plant known as Juutinrauma power plant located in Malmö to operational readiness. Mikael Nilsson, the power plant manager says “I hope we don’t end up in a situation where we have to start the power plant.” This move comes after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and more than half of all power plants in Ukraine have been damaged by Russian strikes according to World Bank data. Cities in Ukraine have gone dark and people have been left without water and heat during harsh winters.

To strengthen its civilian infrastructure, i.e., ports, roads, railways, hospitals and shelters due to its geographical location that makes it particularly vulnerable