Kretschmann against "bans on thinking" at term for nuclear power plants

Created: 07/03/2022, 19:00

Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) takes part in a press conference.

© Marijan Murat/dpa/archive image

In view of the looming energy crisis, Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) does not rule out extending the operating times for coal-fired and nuclear power plants.

Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) rightly said that security of supply must be guaranteed and that there should be no ban on thinking.

"I see it that way too," said Kretschmann of the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (Tuesday).

Stuttgart - "We now have to find short-term solutions - and in the medium term there is no way around further pushing the expansion of renewable energies in order to make ourselves independent of fossil fuels."

According to previous plans, the Neckarwestheim nuclear power plant in Baden-Württemberg will be in operation until the end of this year.

Regarding a possible longer term of the pile, which the energy group EnBW operates, Kretschmann said: "As before, I do not interfere in the operational business of EnBW." In addition, such an extension of the terms is a decision of the federal government.

"These are very complex questions in terms of meaningfulness, feasibility and legal aspects." That will now be examined.

"It is clear - especially after the potentially very dangerous attacks on nuclear plants - that the phase-out of nuclear power and the switch to renewables will remain the order of the day."

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Shortly after the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Habeck declared that longer running times for coal or nuclear power plants were unsuitable for compensating for supply bottlenecks by cutting Russian deliveries.

Nevertheless, his ministry is checking that. "There are no taboos." A little later he explained that Germany would face a difficult winter if the coal or gas supply chains from Russia were torn off.

A longer operation of the nuclear reactors will not help in the foreseeable future.

Referring to coal power, Habeck said it was a way to "keep power plants on reserve" just in case.

dpa