picture alliance/dpa | Britta Pedersen
The magazine “Cicero” reported that the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Environment had already ignored internal concerns about the nuclear phase-out at the end of 2022 in spring 2022.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck responded at a special meeting that he and his ministry had considered the option of continued operation of German nuclear power plants at an early stage.
Habeck emphasized that securing the power supply was his priority and that the ministry had always worked on the basis of facts.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck emphasized on Friday in Berlin that he and his ministry had considered the option of continued operation of German nuclear power plants (nuclear power plants) on their own initiative and at an early stage. He made these comments after a special meeting of the Committee on Climate Protection and Energy. He was fully available to answer questions.
A report from the magazine “Cicero” triggered the special session. This report suggested that both the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Environment Ministry, both under Green leadership, had ignored internal concerns about the spring 2022 nuclear plant shutdown planned for the end of 2022. Both ministries have denied these claims. Additional documents will now be presented to parliamentarians.
“And when the MPs read the documents, a different picture will emerge,” explained Habeck about the nuclear power plant affair. “The documents tell a different story than was reported, namely that the ministry and myself, even before the Russian war of aggression, actively approached the operators of the nuclear power plants with the question: Can your things run longer? And does it help us anything?”
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Securing the power supply is the priority
The talks with the nuclear power plant operators began shortly before the Russian attack on Ukraine, a ministry spokeswoman explained on request. At that time, Russia was the main supplier of gas to Germany. The nuclear phase-out was originally planned for the turn of the year 2022/23.
Habeck further explained that it was reported in the spring that the fuel elements of the remaining three German nuclear power plants would burn out by the end of the year. “Later in the year this information was corrected. It was then said that they could run for two, three, four, five months longer and the term was extended accordingly.” He assured that security of supply was his top priority. His ministry worked without any restrictions on thinking, but always based on facts, data and legal norms.
According to a draft note from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, dated at the beginning of March, the question was raised as to whether it would make sense to continue operating the nuclear power plants, arguments were presented and a review was recommended. According to Habeck, however, this document did not reach him. It was later included in an audit note in which the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Environment spoke out against extending the terms. Nevertheless, the operation of three nuclear power plants was extended until mid-April 2023 to secure electricity supplies.
Ingrid Nestle, the Green Party’s spokesperson for climate protection and energy, said after the meeting that the allegations were now “public, transparent and completely resolved.”
dpa
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