In view of the imminent phase-out of nuclear energy, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) has warned of supply bottlenecks and rising energy prices. “Despite the drop in gas prices, energy costs remain high for most companies in Germany,” said DIHK President Peter Adrian of the “Rheinische Post”. At the same time, Germany is “not over the hill” when it comes to security of supply. “We must therefore continue to do everything we can to expand the supply of energy and not restrict it any further.”
Germany is dependent on all available energy sources, Adrian warned. “This is the only way we can avoid or at least mitigate supply bottlenecks and another massive increase in energy prices in the coming months.”
Failures or restrictions in the energy supply are a hitherto unknown risk for Germany and a locational disadvantage that nothing can compensate for in an industrialized country, he warned. “Against this background, large parts of the German economy are relying on allowing usable nuclear power plants to continue running until the end of the crisis.”
Shutdown of the last nuclear power plants on April 15th
On Saturday, the three remaining nuclear power plants in Germany are finally to go off the grid. This was actually supposed to happen at the end of last year. However, because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis, the traffic light coalition decided last year to let the reactors continue to run over the winter.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck considers the exit to be irreversible despite all resistance. With reference to the high filling levels in the gas storage facilities, new liquid gas terminals and renewable energies, the Green politician recently assured that the energy supply was guaranteed.
The vice-chairman of the Union parliamentary group, Jens Spahn (CDU), criticized the adherence to the nuclear phase-out and in particular Economics Minister Habeck. “This green climate minister prefers to run coal-fired power plants – the ultimate climate killer, CO2 polluters – than climate-neutral ones,” said Spahn on RTL/ntv’s “Frühstart” program. As a replacement for the missing four gigawatts of power from nuclear energy, charcoal piles would remain connected to the grid and emit carbon dioxide. “It’s a black day for climate protection in Germany.” Spahn called for the last three nuclear power plants to be extended until at least the end of 2024. “Coal-fired power plants should be taken off the grid, nuclear power plants should run – because they are safe and climate-neutral.”
