The remaining three German nuclear power plants should be able to continue operating until mid-April next year at the latest. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) decided that, as a government spokesman announced on Monday in Berlin. “The legal basis will be created to enable the power operation of the Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland nuclear power plants beyond December 31, 2022 until April 15, 2023 at the latest,” says a letter sent to Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (both Greens) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP).
For days, the FDP and the Greens in particular had been arguing about whether and for how long the three nuclear power plants that were still in operation should continue to operate. At a party congress over the weekend, the Greens decided to support so-called stretching operations for the Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim 2 kilns until mid-April 2023 if necessary.
The FDP also wanted to keep the third Emsland nuclear power plant connected to the grid and run all three until 2024. If necessary, nuclear power plants that have already been shut down should be reactivated.
Scholz went on to say that “in parallel with this decision” an ambitious law to increase energy efficiency should be presented. In addition, the political agreement between the economics ministries in the federal government and North Rhine-Westphalia and the energy company RWE on the phase-out of coal in the Rhenish mining area should be “implemented by legislation”. Among other things, the agreement provides for two lignite-fired power plants to run longer, until 2024, but to bring forward the phase-out of coal in the Rhenish mining area by eight years to 2030.
In his letter, Scholz asks the responsible ministers “to present the relevant regulatory proposals to the cabinet in a timely manner”.
Lindner welcomed Scholz’s decision. “It is in the vital interest of our country and its economy that we maintain all energy production capacities this winter. The Chancellor has now created clarity,” said Lindner.
