Germany to decide on nuclear plant extension
Germany was set to signal Monday whether it would extend the lifetime of its nuclear power plants, in what could be a major policy U-turn as the shut-off of Russian gas supplies sends Europe scrambling for energy sources.
The results of a stress-test to evaluate the benefits of an extension will be presented by Economy Minister Robert Habeck and four grid operators at a press conference later on Monday.
Domestic media reports suggest the government is tending towards keeping the plants running longer than originally planned.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz said in early August that extending the lifetime of Germany's three remaining nuclear power plants, which account for six percent of the country's electricity output, "can make sense".
An initial stress test in March had found that the remaining nuclear fleet were not needed to ensure energy security, leading to the conclusion that they could be phased out by year's end.
But the electricity market has since been upended by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with power bills soaring because Moscow has dwindled energy supplies to Europe.
READ ALSO: Is Germany about to decide to keep its nuclear power plants open?
Pipeline cut
Former chancellor Angela Merkel spectacularly decided to ditch atomic energy in 2011 following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
Extending the lifetime of the plants has set off a heated debate in Germany, where nuclear power has been a source of controversy stretching back before Merkel's decision.
The move is especially sensitive for Habeck, whose Green party has its roots in the anti-nuclear movement.
But Germany has already moved to restart mothballed coal power plants and fill gas storage ahead of the winter to guard against an energy shortfall.
Last week, Russian energy giant Gazprom said it would not restart gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Saturday as planned after a three-day maintenance, pinning the blame on Western sanctions.
"Problems with pumping (gas) arose due to sanctions that were imposed against our country," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
Bill squeeze
Swift government action meant Germany would "get through this winter" with the energy it needed, Scholz said Sunday.
But soaring bills meant "rapid" changes were needed to the electricity market at a European level, he said at the unveiling of a 65-billion-euro
inflation relief package.
Far-left and far-right political parties planned gatherings in the eastern city of Leipzig on Monday evening to protest what they see as the
insufficiency of the government's support measures.
The demonstrations could mark the start of a "hot autumn" of protest in Germany as billpayers feel the squeeze from rising prices.
Scholz was set to speak with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday to discuss the energy squeeze in Europe.
France, which has long leant on nuclear power, is struggling after a number of its reactors were shut down due to corrosion issues.
Other countries have reevaluated their stance on nuclear energy in the wake of the Russian invasion, including disaster-struck Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called at the end of August for a push to revive the country's nuclear power industry, and build new atomic plants.
By Sebastien ASH
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The results of a stress-test to evaluate the benefits of an extension will be presented by Economy Minister Robert Habeck and four grid operators at a press conference later on Monday.
Domestic media reports suggest the government is tending towards keeping the plants running longer than originally planned.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz said in early August that extending the lifetime of Germany's three remaining nuclear power plants, which account for six percent of the country's electricity output, "can make sense".
An initial stress test in March had found that the remaining nuclear fleet were not needed to ensure energy security, leading to the conclusion that they could be phased out by year's end.
But the electricity market has since been upended by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with power bills soaring because Moscow has dwindled energy supplies to Europe.
READ ALSO: Is Germany about to decide to keep its nuclear power plants open?
Pipeline cut
Former chancellor Angela Merkel spectacularly decided to ditch atomic energy in 2011 following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
Extending the lifetime of the plants has set off a heated debate in Germany, where nuclear power has been a source of controversy stretching back before Merkel's decision.
The move is especially sensitive for Habeck, whose Green party has its roots in the anti-nuclear movement.
But Germany has already moved to restart mothballed coal power plants and fill gas storage ahead of the winter to guard against an energy shortfall.
Last week, Russian energy giant Gazprom said it would not restart gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Saturday as planned after a three-day maintenance, pinning the blame on Western sanctions.
"Problems with pumping (gas) arose due to sanctions that were imposed against our country," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
Bill squeeze
Swift government action meant Germany would "get through this winter" with the energy it needed, Scholz said Sunday.
But soaring bills meant "rapid" changes were needed to the electricity market at a European level, he said at the unveiling of a 65-billion-euro
inflation relief package.
Far-left and far-right political parties planned gatherings in the eastern city of Leipzig on Monday evening to protest what they see as the
insufficiency of the government's support measures.
The demonstrations could mark the start of a "hot autumn" of protest in Germany as billpayers feel the squeeze from rising prices.
Scholz was set to speak with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday to discuss the energy squeeze in Europe.
France, which has long leant on nuclear power, is struggling after a number of its reactors were shut down due to corrosion issues.
Other countries have reevaluated their stance on nuclear energy in the wake of the Russian invasion, including disaster-struck Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called at the end of August for a push to revive the country's nuclear power industry, and build new atomic plants.
By Sebastien ASH
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