Former Federal Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin believes that a party conference is necessary to clarify the Greens’ position on longer operating times for nuclear power plants. “If you seriously want to change the Atomic Energy Act, you can’t do that without a party congress,” said Trittin dem daily mirror. “Whether that has to be a special party conference or whether we could do it at the regular one in October is another question.” Trittin, however, spoke out clearly against an extension of the term.
In the past few days, leading Greens have signaled their willingness to deviate from the party’s strict anti-nuclear course in view of the energy crisis. According to SZ information, there is agreement in the management bodies of the Greens that the Bavarian nuclear power plant Isar 2 could run six months longer if there is a threat of a power shortage in Bavaria next winter. This should compensate for the lack of Russian gas for electricity production.
According to Economics Minister Robert Habeck, however, the essential prerequisite for this is that the benefits of the temporary so-called stretch operation outweigh the risks in a second, nationwide power supply stress test. The Greens reject a general extension of the service life of German nuclear power plants through the purchase of new nuclear fuel rods.
SPD skeptical, FDP for temporary continued operation
Trittin emphasized in daily mirror, a so-called stretching operation is also a runtime extension. The Atomic Energy Act would have to be changed for this. “We won’t touch that.” Otherwise, the FDP hopes to “negotiate everything possible again” with the Union.
Like Tritin, the SPD is skeptical about longer maturities. Party leader Saskia Esken said New Osnabrück newspaper: “Even a stretching operation does not really help us against the gas shortage. It does not generate any more net energy at all, the generation of electricity would only be postponed.” She added: “And that would also be anything but certain, in France a number of reactors are currently not connected to the grid. That’s why I don’t believe in extending the running times.”
The coalition partner of the two parties, the FDP, is relying on the temporary continued operation of the remaining German nuclear power plants in the energy crisis. Group leader Christian Dürr said Rheinische Post: “That would be the right step to secure our energy supply and relieve the electricity market.” According to current legislation, the three remaining German nuclear power plants must be shut down at the end of the year.