Swiss cast votes on nuclear energy referendum

Swiss voters will decide on Sunday whether or not to back a Swiss Green Party initiative to completely phase out the country's five nuclear power plants by 2029.

Launched after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, the plan is to limit the life-span of current nuclear power plants on Swiss territory to 45 years while preventing any future production of nuclear energy.

If the initiative passes, three nuclear power plants would have to close next year.

Both Gosgen and Leibstadt's nuclear power plants would have to shut down in 2024 and 2029 respectively.

Around 40 percent of Switzerland's electricity is generated by these five plants. According to the Green Party and other Swiss political groups who back the initiative, nuclear energy is not only dangerous but also costly.

While committed to gradually decommissioning the country's nuclear power plants under its 2050 energy strategy, the Swiss government stands against the initiative since it would lead to a premature closing of Swiss plants. Endit