BERLIN - Germany will close down a second atomic reactor on Wednesday as part of its policy to phase out nuclear power.
The closure of the 340 megawatt (MW) plant at Obrigheim in southern Germany will be followed by the winding up of the remaining 17 reactors over the next 16 years.
Here are key facts about nuclear power generation in Germany:
* Germany is Europe's second biggest producer of nuclear power after France, which meets nearly 80 per cent of its electricity requirements from nuclear sources.
* The 18 existing nuclear power plants in Germany have an installed capacity of around 20,600 megawatts - about 16 percent of the country's total power generating capacity.
* Germany imports all its uranium for power plants from countries such as Canada, Australia and Russia.
* In 2000, the Social Democrat-Green Party coalition government agreed with energy companies to gradually close down all nuclear power stations, fulfilling an election pledge.
* The companies also agreed to limit the average life-span of the reactors to 32 years and not build any new nuclear plants.
* The first nuclear power station to close down was the 672 MW Stade reactor in November 2003.
* The Biblis A reactor, which has been operational since 1975, will be the next one to close in February 2007. The last one to be switched off - in April 2021 - will be the Neckarwestheim 2 reactor, operational since 1989.
Sources: Reuters, International Atomic Energy Agency, World Nuclear Association
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
