Economy Minister Michael Glos renewed demands by some leaders in the conservative Christian Democrats to scrap a law written by the previous Social Democrat-Greens government that calls for the gradual elimination of nuclear power in Germany.

But Glos was quickly rebuffed by Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck, a leader of the SPD in Merkel's right-left "grand coalition", who said there was no chance the government would even consider reversing plans to end nuclear power.

"We need a reasonable mix of energy sources and energy that is affordable so that consumers and industry aren't further burdened by higher prices," Glos told German television outside a conclave in the Genshagen villa south of Berlin.

"Especially when it's cold and others can turn off their natural gas supplies," he added, referring to the recent dispute between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas supplies.

"We have to talk about the issue of whether we should be arbitrarily turning off nuclear power. We have to talk about whether it is reasonable to turn off nuclear plants in perfect technical condition and import expensive energy from abroad."

But Merkel, who campaigned to extend the use of nuclear power in Germany, has already said she will stand by a coalition agreement signed after the election which clearly states that plans to shut down nuclear plants will not be changed.

Steinbrueck told German television no SPD ministers were wavering on the issue of ending nuclear power in Germany.

"This is clearly defined in the coalition agreement and the coalition agreement is the foundation for the activities of this coalition," Steinbrueck said. "Ending the phase-out of nuclear energy is not up for discussion."

Glos and Steinbrueck also disagreed in their separate interviews on whether the government should offer state subsidies for low-income jobs to help low-skilled and long-term unemployed people find work.

Steinbrueck said he opposed any measures that would place new burdens on the budget while Glos said the subsidies for such jobs would come - it was only a question of what form they took.