Does it make sense to bridge the energy gaps caused by the Ukraine war by continuing to operate the three nuclear power plants that are still producing electricity?

In Baden-Württemberg, a majority of 57 percent of the citizens surveyed recently spoke out in favor of extending the service life.

According to the survey by Allensbach pollsters, 28 percent are still in favor of shutting down the remaining three power plants at the end of the year.

Ruediger Soldt

Political correspondent in Baden-Württemberg.

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In Belgium, the government recently decided to operate two nuclear power plants beyond 2025.

The traffic light government in Berlin, on the other hand, Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (both Green), reject an extension of the term for reasons of economy and safety.

State governments answer the question differently.

The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) wants at least the three remaining nuclear power plants to run longer in order to generate electricity for “ten million people”, as he says.

He is now talking about five power plants, because Söder also wants to put plants that have been shut down back into operation.

Otherwise the energy price would become a poverty trap and a locational disadvantage.

"That would be pure green ideology."

"Technical requirements" for continued operation given

Is the rejection of the Baden-Württemberg Environment Minister Thekla Walker (Greens) really ideologically motivated?

After all, the commitment to phasing out nuclear energy has been one of the most important convictions of the Greens since they were founded.

The Bavarian state government states that only the Atomic Energy Act needs to be changed.

The "technical requirements for the continued operation of Isar 2" are given.

With the existing reactor core, the plant can continue to run uninterrupted until spring 2023.

If the fuel elements were replaced, "continued operation until autumn 2023" is possible, they say.

The power plant "meets the strict criteria for safe operation" beyond 2022, according to the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment, led by Thorsten Faithr (free voters).

The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment, headed by Green Minister Walker, is more skeptical about the matter.

It's about the Neckarwestheim II power plant. So that it can continue to run, "fuel pellets, cladding tubes, spacers" and other parts would have to be specially made.

"A production time of around one and a half years seems realistic," says the ministry.

The decisive question for further operation is which safety checks the federal legislator prescribes for this case.

Some experts think it is possible to implement a safety check within a few months, but in Stuttgart people see things differently.

A security check and the "creation of the necessary documents on the part of the operator" would take one to two years, they say.

In addition, Environment Minister Walker and her experts have concerns as to whether the nuclear power plant could be operated at the “high level of safety still available” beyond December 31, 2022.

“The operators have aligned their planning, for example in terms of personnel and organizational processes, to the switch-off time stipulated in the Atomic Energy Act.

Among other things, early retirement arrangements were made for employees and service contracts terminated.

Undoing all of this will be difficult, if not impossible.”