German nuclear power plants are “the safest in the world”

BERLIN. The chairman of the TÜV Association, Joachim Bühler, has criticized the shutdown of the last three German nuclear power plants (NPP) planned for this Saturday. They “could have continued until the end of the decade,” he said Picture-Newspaper.

Bühler made it clear: “German nuclear power plants are still among the safest power plants in the world. This applies until the shutdown and beyond.” The expert sees a supply problem in Germany: by 2030, the Federal Republic will need around 50 percent more electricity than today. The reasons are, among other things, the electromobility promoted by the government and the heat pump obligation.

>> Click here for the petition Petition “Yes to nuclear energy” / Photo: JF

Electricity from NPPs has to be compensated with coal

The current nuclear power, which is not covered by renewable energies, must now be “compensated for by electricity from coal and gas – with a correspondingly poorer CO2 balance,” said the 45-year-old. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) even declared that he wanted to cover the gap created by the nuclear phase-out primarily with renewable energies. But experts don’t think that’s possible.

For safety reasons, the nuclear phase-out is not necessary, emphasizes Bühler: The nuclear power plants are “in very good condition” and are designed to run much longer to supply Germany with electricity. The three reactors, which are now being taken off the grid, “were put into operation in 1988 and 1989 and are designed for a service life of at least 40 years”.

On Tuesday, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Federal Association of Energy and Water Management clearly criticized Economics Minister Robert Habeck for the nuclear phase-out. (fh)