Germany will continue the operation of three nuclear reactors
In light of the current energy crisis, the remaining three nuclear reactors in Germany will continue their operation for a few months, and not be shut down as was previously planned.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has ordered Germany’s three remaining commercial nuclear power plants to remain in operation until April “at the latest”, as the energy crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hurts the economy. These plants are Emsland, Neckarwestheim 2 and Isar 2.
Nuclear energy produced in 2021 12% of the electricity of the country. Until March 2011, obtained one-quarter of its electricity from nuclear energy, using 17 reactors. A coalition government formed after the 1998 federal elections had the phasing out of nuclear energy as a feature of its policy. With a new government in 2009, the phase-out was cancelled, but then reintroduced in 2011 following the Fukushima accident in Japan, with eight reactors shut down immediately. Nuclear power was planned be phased out by 2022.
The three nuclear reactors will remain in operation in Germany until April 2023
There has been disagreement in the governing coalition over the lifespan of nuclear power plants. However, the debate over the future of Germany's nuclear power industry reopened after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Vice-chancellor and economy minister Robert Habeck of the Green Party said he accepted the fact that Scholz had overridden others in the Cabinet.
The chancellor has asked the economy, environment and finance ministries to create the legal basis for the plants to remain open.
Three German ministries have been required to create the legal basis for the plants to remain open
Source: NucNet
Cover photo: Isar 2 Nuclear Power plant (Wikimedia Commons)
