Germany extends its last operating nuclear power plants by a few months

The cooling tower of the Emsland nuclear power plant, on the outskirts of Lingen, Germany, October 12, 2022. REUTERS - STEPHANE NITSCHKE

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The abandonment of nuclear power, planned for years, for the end of December has been postponed to mid-April.

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With our correspondent in Berlin,

The situation was becoming untenable for Olaf Scholz, whose attempts at mediation between his ecologist and liberal partners had remained unsuccessful.

The chancellor has finally decided.

Germany will extend the operation of

(Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland), at least until April 15, 2023, he announced on Monday October 17, a date which will seal four months late. the definitive abandonment by Germany of this source of energy.

Reduce energy expenditure with Russian gas

The Greens, on a subject that affects their identity, only accepted the use of two of the three power plants still in service until next spring.

The Liberals wanted the three sites still in operation to continue to operate until 2024, even if it meant procuring uranium for this.

The war in Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis therefore got the better of Berlin's plans.

Europe's largest economy is trying to reduce its dependence on Russian energy imports, especially its gas.

Olaf Scholz made use of a little used prerogative in a political system based on compromise. 

Snub for the Greens

If the Liberals welcomed this solution on Sunday evening, the leadership of the Greens was more discreet.

Olaf Scholz also made two announcements to satisfy environmentalists: he announced “

”.

And the exit from coal in North Rhine-Westphalia, recently negotiated – 2030 instead of 2038 – must be validated in a law.

The German government has also decided to extend the activity of several coal-fired power plants until spring 2024, even though it has set itself the objective of abandoning this energy in 2030.

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• Germany

• Nuclear

• Energies

• Olaf Scholz