Energy – Hanover – Because: achievable conditions for further operation of nuclear power plants – economy
Hanover (dpa) – After the decision by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to continue operating the Emsland nuclear power plant, the state government of Lower Saxony wants to create the necessary conditions for this. That said Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) on Monday evening in Hanover. “It is crucial that April 15, 2023 is the latest final phase-out date and no new fuel rods are purchased,” he said. From the perspective of Lower Saxony, however, the continued operation of the power plant in Lingen is not necessary.
Lower Saxony’s nuclear supervisory authority is prepared for the upcoming test steps, said Lower Saxony’s Environment Minister Olaf Lies (SPD). The nuclear power plant in Lingen will not make any real contribution to solving the current challenge. “We don’t have the need in the north and the fuel rods are already used up in the specified range and the output is being reduced,” said Lies. Even with a reconfiguration of the existing fuel rods, only a limited output of the power plant would be possible.
The stretching operation decided by Scholz is a compromise that draws a line under the unspeakable debate about running time extensions. “Now we can all concentrate on the real solutions with all our strength again: the expansion of renewables and the grids and more energy efficiency for the energy transition, which makes our supply climate-friendly, safe and above all independent,” explained Lies.
A government spokesman had previously announced Scholz’s decision to continue operating three German nuclear power plants. The power plants should be able to continue running until mid-April next year at the latest.
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