Germany may not be able to replace all its imports of Russian natural gas this winter and might resort to keeping its three remaining nuclear power plants online, chancellor Olaf Scholz and economy minister Robert Habeck said at a government open day in Berlin on Sunday (21 August)
According to press reports in Germany, both men emphasised that while there is an option of extending the lives of the reactors beyond December, it is only under consideration because of the increasing worries that Europe’s biggest economy will not be able to replace dwindling natural gas supplies from Russia.
Scholz pointed at the maintenance and repair issues in France – where plants have been taken offline because of corrosion issues – as a reminder of the problems older plants are facing.
According to press reports in Germany, both men emphasised that while there is an option of extending the lives of the reactors beyond December, it is only under consideration because of the increasing worries that Europe’s biggest economy will not be able to replace dwindling natural gas supplies from Russia.
Scholz pointed at the maintenance and repair issues in France – where plants have been taken offline because of corrosion issues – as a reminder of the problems older plants are facing.
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