The remaining three German nuclear power plants should be able to continue operating until mid-April next year at the latest.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz decided that, as emerged on Monday from a letter from the SPD politician to the responsible ministers published by the Federal Press Office.
Scholz instructs the ministers to submit legislative proposals to the cabinet so that the Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland nuclear power plants can continue to operate beyond the end of the year until April 15, 2023 at the latest.
The affected state government in Lower Saxony reacted sullenly to the Chancellor's decision and described the continued operation of the Lingen nuclear power plant as "not necessary".
Environment Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) spoke of the end of an "unspeakable debate".
The nuclear power plant in Emsland will make "no real contribution", said Lies.
There is neither a need for additional electricity in northern Germany nor do the fuel rods in Emsland have relevant reserves.
Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) said that the necessary conditions for continued operation would still be created and praised that at least "no new fuel rods would be bought".
At federal level, the FDP immediately welcomed the decision, while the Greens reacted cautiously.
For days, these two traffic light partners in particular had been arguing about whether and for how long the three nuclear power plants that were still in operation should continue to be operated.
Extension of the two lignite-fired power plants until 2024
At a party congress over the weekend, the Greens decided to support so-called stretching operations for the Isar 2 kiln in Bavaria and Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Württemberg until mid-April 2023, if necessary.
The nuclear phase-out that was once agreed actually provides for the end of operations for all German nuclear power plants at the turn of the year.
The FDP also wanted to keep the third Emsland nuclear power plant in Lower Saxony 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 wrote that an ambitious law to increase energy efficiency should also be presented.
The 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 also be "implemented by legislation".
Among other things, the agreement provides for two lignite-fired power plants to run until 2024, but to bring forward the phase-out of coal in the Rhenish mining area to 2030.
The federal government also wants to create the conditions for the construction of new "hydrogen-capable gas power plants", i.e. power plants that can later be operated with climate-friendly hydrogen.
With this step, Scholz made use of his directive competence, which is anchored in Article 65 of the Basic Law.
Accordingly, the chancellor "determines the guidelines of politics and bears responsibility for them".
It also says there: “The federal government decides on differences of opinion between the federal ministers.” With his decision, Scholz is now creating a way out for the Greens and FDP, who had got stuck with incompatible positions.