Status: 09/28/2022 2:57 p.m
The Greens support Economics Minister Habeck’s decision to leave two nuclear power plants on the grid for longer, within clearly defined limits. FDP and CDU, on the other hand, do not go far enough with Habeck’s decision.
After the announcement by Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) that the two southern German nuclear reactors Nackwarwestheim and Isar 2 might be operated beyond the planned end of service life until mid-April 2023, the debate about a possible extension of the service life of nuclear power plants has not died down.
Habeck’s party colleague, Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, said in Berlin that she would probably support a longer term. In view of the Russian war against Ukraine, the federal government is taking various measures to secure the energy supply in Germany, said the minister. “This includes, among other things, that two nuclear power plants can be operated in winter for three months longer than previously planned, if this is necessary,” she added, but emphasized that the high safety standards “must be fully maintained”.
“I rule out an extension of the service life beyond the coming winter and the necessary procurement of new fuel elements,” added the minister.
Mihalic: The decision to phase out nuclear power has been made
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Greens parliamentary group, Irene Mihalic, meanwhile reaffirmed the will to phase out nuclear power. It is good that the minister has come to an agreement with the operators, but that is not an extension of the service life. She underscored, “We’re not talking about life extensions here. We’re not talking about buying new fuel either.” And added: “The nuclear phase-out is a done deal. We’re not going to change that.”
FDP calls for “real extension of the term”
The FPD parliamentary group leader praised the Economics Minister as moving in the right direction. However, this is not enough to secure the power supply. FDP faction leader Christian Dürr called Habeck’s decision a “right step”. On Twitter, however, he emphasized: “Now we also need a real runtime extension, because every kilowatt hour counts.”
Emsland must also remain connected to the grid, according to Dürr, and new fuel rods would have to be ordered for it. “It’s about more than the coming months,” emphasizes Dürr.
Kretschmer: Temporary solution insufficient
CDU Federal Vice Michael Kretschmer called Habeck’s announcement insufficient. in the Deutschlandfunk the Saxon Minister-President criticized the fact that the Federal Minister of Economics did not have a general continuation order for the nuclear power plants and was only striving for a temporary solution. Habeck is not on the subject of what people are concerned about, namely the rising prices.