The three nuclear power plants that are still in operation will remain in operation until April 15. On the basis of his policy authority, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has ordered that the legal basis must be created to operate the nuclear power plants Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland after December 31 until April 15, 2023, a government spokesperson said Monday in Berlin. announced.
FDP leader and finance minister Christian Lindner welcomed the decision: “It is in the vital interest of our state and its economy that we maintain all power generation capacity this winter. The Chancellor has now brought clarity,” Lindner said in Berlin on Monday. further use of the Emsland nuclear power plant is “an important contribution to grid stability, electricity costs and climate protection”. The proposal therefore has “the full support of the Free Democrats”.
A week-long argument ensued. On Sunday afternoon, Scholz discussed this issue for the third time with Lindner and Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck (Greens). As with the previous consultations, no results were announced afterwards.
Third nuclear power plant should have been shut down
The Greens wanted to keep the two southern German nuclear power plants Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim 2 in reserve until April 15 and continue to use them to generate electricity if necessary. This would not require new fuel elements. Emsland’s third remaining nuclear power plant in Lower Saxony, on the other hand, should have been shut down permanently on January 1, 2023, according to the will of the Greens. Speaking to Deutschlandfunk, Julia Hamburg, Greens politician in Lower Saxony, pointed out that wind turbines are currently being shut down because the nuclear power plant is permanently connected to the grid. The continuation of the operation is therefore not necessary. Over the weekend, the Greens’ federal party conference ruled out such a party after 2022.
The FDP, on the other hand, demanded that all three plants remain in operation until 2024 and, if necessary, restart the already decommissioned nuclear plants.
Extension requires legislative change
Since the phasing out of nuclear energy is enshrined in law around the turn of the year, any expansion of the operation of the nuclear power plant requires a change in the law. To implement this, it must be approved by the Bundestag this week. An agreement between the coalition factions had to be reached by Wednesday at the latest.
Law to increase energy efficiency
Scholz’s letter on Monday, addressed to Habeck and Lindner and to Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens), says an ambitious law to increase energy efficiency must be presented “parallel to this decision” on nuclear power plants. In addition, the agreement between the federal government, North Rhine-Westphalia and the energy company RWE on the phasing out of coal in the Rhineland mining area is to be “implemented by legislation”. The agreement provides, among other things, that two lignite plants will run longer, until 2024, but that the phasing out of coal in the Rhineland mining area will be brought forward by eight years to 2030.
In his letter, Scholz requests the responsible ministers “to submit the relevant regulatory proposals to the cabinet in a timely manner”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
