Two of the three remaining German nuclear power plants should apparently be available as an emergency reserve for the power supply by next spring. The third remaining Emsland power plant is to be shut down as planned by the end of the year.
According to information from the “Spiegel”, the two power plants Neckarwestheim in Baden-Württemberg and Isar 2 in Bavaria will form an “operational reserve until mid-April 2023”. This is the result of a stress test that Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) will present on Monday evening.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the coalition partner FDP has meanwhile already taken a clear position. Linder made it clear to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that the FDP definitely wanted to continue operating – regardless of the result of the test presented by Habeck.
“In these times, all possibilities should be used to reduce the electricity price for people and companies. In my view, this is an economic policy stress test that must also play a role in addition to the energy policy stress test,” said Lindner of the “SZ”.
However, there is also “a lot to be said for the fact that the three nuclear power plants should continue to be operated to ensure grid stability”. The trouble within the Apel seems inevitable.
You shouldn’t be too picky, but allow everything that makes life easier physically and economically, the FDP leader demanded.
“Everything from the exploration of domestic oil and gas deposits, which are now economical in view of the world market prices, the continued operation of the nuclear power plants until at least 2024, through the mobilization of all coal capacities to all colors of hydrogen,” must be used. he explained to the “SZ”
According to the current legal situation, the last three German nuclear power plants will be taken off the grid at the end of the year. In March, the Federal Ministry of Economics and the Federal Environment Ministry rejected a possible continued operation after an examination. In view of the tense situation on the energy markets and the lack of Russian gas deliveries, the government decided to carry out another stress test to ensure the security of the energy supply.
The Union has been warning of possible power outages in winter for weeks and is calling for three other nuclear power plants that were shut down last year to be reactivated. In the traffic light coalition, the FDP in particular is promoting the continued operation of the three power plants that are still in operation – and does not rule out the purchase of new fuel rods, which would make it possible to extend the service life by several years.
In the case of the Greens, Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke has not ruled out a short-term continued operation of at least the Bavarian nuclear power plant Isar 2 via a so-called stretch operation. With him, nuclear power would only remain on the grid for a few weeks or months beyond the turn of the year without new fuel rods being used. In parts of the green basis, however, resistance is also high here.
SPD leader Saskia Esken confirmed on Monday that her party would at most agree to a stretching operation. The SPD was “in no way prepared” to extend the service life by several years or even to put old reactors back into operation, she said in Berlin. (Tsp/AFP)
