German MPs OK extension for nuke power plants through April

Three German nuclear power plants that had been set to close will now operate until mid-April, the German Bundestag voted on Friday, as the country seeks to guarantee power supplies, reported dpa.

The continued operation of the Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland power plants was approved with the votes of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition of the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP).

In a roll-call vote, 375 lawmakers voted in favour of amending the Atomic Energy Act, 216 voted against and 70 abstained: A total of 661 votes were cast.

The power plants in question had been due to be shut down at the end of the year as part of Germany's long-agreed phase-out of nuclear power. Scholz had recently decided that they should continue operating, ending squabbling between the parties in his coalition.

SPD deputy Carsten Träger called the decision "responsible," noting that the nuclear phase-out is to go ahead as planned.

His party colleague, Nina Scheer, was more sceptical, warning that renewable energies would be sidelined if nuclear power plants continued to operate for a longer period of time.

The opposition Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) voiced stronger opposition, saying the government had barely reached a consensus on the issue. A short-term extension of operating times brought too little relief in terms of price and security of energy supply.

The CDU/CSU parliamentary group had proposed extending the service life of the last three German nuclear power plants until at least the end of 2024, in addition to a massive expansion of renewable energies. The deputies justified this with current high electricity prices.

CSU parliamentarian Andreas Lenz accused Economy Minister Robert Habeck in particular of employing misinformation in the debate about the continued operation of the nuclear power plants.

Ralph Lenkert of die Linke (The Left) warned in particular of the risks of nuclear power. "Human error in operation is always possible. Look at Chernobyl," he asserted.