German Government Wants to Extend Nuclear Reactor Life Spans

The German nuclear lobby appears to have scored a major victory January 2010. SPIEGEL has obtained information indicating that the government in Berlin will permit the continued operation of all German nuclear power plants - including two decades-old reactors. The government will allow the companies to use tricks that will buy time until Berlin can change existing phase-out legislation.

However, in February 2010, Germany's environment minister said that no efforts should be wasted to replace nuclear technology as fast as possible, but German states with atomic power facilities are pushing for a 20-year delay.

• Primary Source

Spiegel Online International, 8.2.10: German Minister Sparks Government Row Over Nuclear Power http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,676581,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 15.2.10: Environment minister stands firm on nuclear power plant closure http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5247896,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 21.2.10: Merkel puts brakes on minister's nuclear phase-out plans http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5271103,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 13.2.10: Conservatives rebel over German government's nuclear rethink http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5245200,00.html

ESO: Background information: Environment minister says Germans won't accept nuclear power long-term http://www.europeansources.info/record/environment-minister-says-germans-wont-accept-nuclear-power-long-term/

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