The political doubts are now joined by technical concerns about the proposal by Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) to leave two of the last three nuclear power plants in operational readiness until April 2023 after they have been shut down at the end of the year.

Guido Knott, head of the Eon subsidiary Preussen-Elektra, which operates the Bavarian plant Isar 2, considers Habeck's plans "technically unfeasible and therefore unsuitable for securing the supply contribution of the plants".

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

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Knott writes this in a letter to Habeck's State Secretary Patrick Graichen, which is available to the FAZ.

As early as August 25, the ministry was informed that in the event of a stretching operation or a complete shutdown, "flexible increase or reduction in output is no longer possible".

"A nuclear power plant is not an emergency generator"

Contrary to what von Habeck claims, this is "certainly not feasible at short notice within a week".

There is a lack of experience with the desired route, "testing a start-up procedure that has never been practiced before should not coincide with a critical state of the power supply".

Such an approach is “incompatible with our safety culture”.

According to the information, Isar 2 is prepared for regular stretching operations and could thus produce four terawatt hours of electricity.

"This could also noticeably dampen the high electricity prices," says Knott.

Habeck's house has denied that extending the term would lower prices noticeably.

Bavaria's Minister of the Environment Thorsten Glauber (Freie Wahler), whose house is in charge of nuclear supervision in the state, told the FAZ: "A cold reserve is not a good solution.

A nuclear power plant is not an emergency generator.” It is about unknown, complex processes.

Better would be "a temporary extension of the terms to ensure security of supply."

Baden-Württemberg's Environment Minister Thekla Walker (Greens), who is responsible for the second Neckarwestheim power plant, supports her party friend Habeck, but also says: "There are still open questions as to the extent to which this concept can be technically implemented and what special safety requirements are observed have to."