German economy, environment ministers clash on nuclear

London (Platts)--20Apr2007

German economy minister Michael Glos Friday said energy users should
consider extending the life-span of the country's remaining nuclear power
plants, but the idea was quickly shot down by environment Minister Sigmar
Gabriel.
"We have to consider the life-span of our nuclear power plants until we
can provide enough energy by clean, alternative sources if the EU's high
energy targets are to be met and national government plans are to be
implemented," Glos said at the "Conference on Energy Efficiency" in Berlin.
He did not mention building new power plants.
In past months, Glos and Gabriel have clashed over several aspects of
energy policy, including Germany's nuclear phase-out program.
Gabriel said he didn't see any possibility for the economy minister to
change the ruling coalition's plan to shut down the country's remaining power
plants.
"For that purpose minister Glos would need the majority in parliament,
which he won't get," he told Platts. "At least not in this term."
Glos is from the ruling coalition party's (CDU) Bavarian sister branch,
the CSU. Gabriel is a member of the junior coalition member SPD.
Germany's previous government passed a nuclear phase-out law in 2002
forbidding the construction of new nuclear plants and limiting existing ones
to an average life-span of 32 years.
Glos also commented on Germany's Cabinet decision on Wednesday to approve
more stringent curbs on environmentally damaging greenhouse gas emissions
starting next year, complying with the demands of the European Commission. The
revised plan foresees a German emissions limit of 453 million metric tons of
CO2 annually, a reduction of some 57 million tons from present levels.
"The economy and the environment need an appropriate, sustainable
framework. This will not materialize by itself. The government has thus made
the issue of energy efficiency one of the priorities of its EU and G8
presidencies," Glos said.
Globalization and climate change showed that these were worldwide
challenges. "Making significantly more efficient use of energy is absolutely
essential if we are to have a safe and low-cost environment and ensure a
resource-conserving supply of energy to international markets, and is thus
indispensable for worldwide economic growth that preserves for future
generations the natural resources and social basis that they require," the
minister said.