Thaindian News

Berlin, July 15 (IANS) Germany, which decided to phase out nuclear power plants by 2022, is now debating whether to support its own nuclear industry by setting up nuclear power plants in other countries.

Ursula Heinen-Esser, parliamentary state secretary, Ministry of Environment, Germany says that the federal government will take a decision soon.

“I cannot say at this moment because in government we are discussing the issue of how we are to support nuclear power plants in other countries of the world,” she told a group of reporters during an interaction here Thursday.

She said that the government does not have an answer yet on the issue.

In what could be a setback to the German nuclear industry, requests of import of nuclear power plants by countries have been put on hold till the government takes a stand on nuclear export policy.

“We support questions of energy security but take for example Brazil (which) wants to build a new nuclear power plant and the question is that of export credit guarantee and we have not taken the decision yet,” said Heinen-Esser.

Germany like many other European countries provides financial backup - export credit guarantee - to its industry when they invest in other countries especially in developing nations.

“We do not want nuclear power and we cannot say ok we do not want nuclear power plant but we support nuclear power plants in other countries,” said Heinen-Esser, who is a former journalist.

On June 6, the German government passed a legislation for phasing out nuclear power plants by 2022. The decision was taken in the wake of Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in March this year.

Of the 17 nuclear power stations, Germany has already shut eight of them this year and plans to shut rest of them by 2022.

According to Heinen-Esser, shutting of eight nuclear plans has had no major affect on power situation in the country.

Germany has adopted an ambitious Energy Concept of almost doubling its renewable energies’ share of power from 17 to 35 percent in 2020. This share is expected to increase 50 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.

“With this package we have laid the groundwork for implementing the structural changes to Germany’s energy industry and for reducing overall energy demand,” she said.

Germany feels that if all the cost is taken into account then the country’s energy transformation system works out to be cheaper than the nuclear power and all follow up cost.

According to German nuclear industry, the accelerated phase-out of nuclear rector is a big set back.

Nicolas Wendler, consultant political affairs, German Atomic Forum, said: “Issue of economic viability and competitiveness of the German nuclear industry was discussed by the government before taking the decision but accelerated phase out will affect the industry in long run.”

Germany has a multi-billion Euro nuclear industry which employs around 33,000 people.

(Richa Sharma can be contacted at richa.s@ians.in)