British Decision Rekindles German Debate on Phase-Out of Nuclear Power

Text of report “Great Britain fuels German debate on nuclear phase-out” by right-of-centre German newspaper Die Welt website on 12 January

The British government’s commitment to further use of nuclear energy has revived the debate in Germany on the planned phase-out of nuclear power. Bavaria’s Minister-President Guenther Beckstein (CSU) [Christian Social Union] has argued for “reviewing the phase-out of nuclear energy decided in the nuclear consensus and extending the remaining lifetimes of the nuclear power plants”. But the operators should be obligated to invest in renewable energies some of the profits from the extension of lifetimes, he said. Politicians of the Union [CDU-CSU, Christian Democratic Union - CSU] and FDP [Free Democratic Party] also spoke in favour of longer use of nuclear power. But Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) [Social Democratic Party of Germany] said he saw “no grounds” in the decisions to deviate from the German path of phasing out nuclear power.

Originally published by Die Welt website, Berlin, in German 12 Jan 08.

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