Merkel Sets Three-Month 'Moratorium' on Extension of Lifespans

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,750916,00.html

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, facing a resurgence in public fears about nuclear power following the Fukushima disaster and tough regional elections, said on Monday she would review her decision to extend the lifetimes of nuclear reactors. Two old plants may be shut down as a result, at least temporarily.
Info
For reasons of data protection and privacy, your IP address will only be stored if you are a registered user of Facebook and you are currently logged in to the service. For more detailed information, please click on the "i" symbol.

Germany said on Monday it may shut down two ageing nuclear power stations pending a safety review of its entire nuclear industry following the disaster at Japan's Fukushima plant.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose party faces two important regional elections on March 27 in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, told a news conference she was imposing a three-month moratorium on the extension of lifetimes for the country's 17 nuclear power stations.

As a result, two ageing power stations that would have been off the grid if it hadn't been for last year's controversial increase in their operating lives, the Biblis A plant in the western state of Hesse and the Neckarwestheim I plant in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg, may be shut down, at least temporarily.

Merkel said she would discuss details with the plant operators in coming days.

Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party is at risk of losing power in Baden-Württemberg on March 27 in the most important of seven regional elections being held this year. The loss of the state, which the CDU has governed since 1953, would be a major blow to the party and to Merkel. On Saturday, some 60,000 people demonstrated against the continued operation of the ageing Neckarwestheim plant, forming a 45-kilometer (28-mile) human chain from the plant to the city of Stuttgart.

Most Germans are opposed to nuclear power, and the Fukushima disaster has heightened fears of the technology and strengthened the anti-nuclear lobby and the opposition Green Party ahead of the elections.

Merkel's center-right coalition took the controversial step last year of prolonging the lives of nuclear power stations by an average of 12 years in a move she said would secure the supply of affordable electricity while Europe's largest economy converts to renewable sources of energy.

Under a decision taken by the previous center-left government in 2002, all power stations were to have been phased out by 2021. The oldest ones would have already been taken offline.

Fukushima 'Has Consequences for the Whole World'

"We can't yet make do without the peaceful use of nuclear power as a bridge technology if we want to continue to reliably cover our energy requirements as Europe's biggest economy and if we want to continue to live up to the need to protect the climate," Merkel said.

"But we can't simply continue as normal. The events in Japan teach us that something that by all scientific benchmarks was considered impossible can actually occur.

"If in a highly developed country like Japan, a country with high safety standards and safety requirements, nuclear consequences from an earthquake and a tsunami can't be prevented, this has consequences for the whole world, it has consequences for Europe and it has consequences for us in Germany."

Merkel said that in the coming three months, Germany's nuclear power stations will go through new safety checks and discussions will take place on accelerating the transition to renewables.

The chancellor did not provide details, but said public acceptance of measures needed for the development of renewables, such as building new power lines and CO2 storage, would need to be increased.

Views: 31

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Thumbnail

CHARLIE KIRK WAS CNP! JOSH REEVES 9-11-25

"I don't follow as much with Josh Reeves than I use to. He seems to be a documentary producing…"
3 hours ago
Burbia posted a video

CHARLIE KIRK WAS CNP! JOSH REEVES 9-11-25

DONATE-paypal-dayglow76@yahoo.comCashapp-reevesradioVenmo-Josh-Reeves-61FILMS AND AUDIOBOOKS DOWNLOAD STORE-https://store.payloadz.com/results/242828-josh-re...
4 hours ago
Doc Vega posted blog posts
7 hours ago
tjdavis posted a video

CHARLIE KIRK VIDEO THAT KEEPS GETTING REMOVED OFF OF SEVERAL PLATFORMS

I had not planned to share this publicly, but I believe Advar, who spoke with Charlie Kirk while I was very ill, would have wanted me to. After my interview ...
20 hours ago
pohonemas33 team commented on Chris of the family Masters's photo
Thumbnail

Gold-Coast-Message

"untuk bermain slot, kamu cukup kunjungi situs kacang99 pasti langsung gacor"
yesterday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
yesterday
Burbia posted a blog post

Former President Trump?

When was this article written? It is attributed to Victor Davis Hanson. He is a Fellow at Hoover…See More
Tuesday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Don’t Go Hunting For Bigfoot

It is October 19, 2019 at 5:46 AM. This will be the last time any visual evidence of Mark is seen…See More
Monday
tjdavis posted a video

Most Corrupt Series: Elizabeth Warren | Forgotten History

Elizabeth Warren has built her reputation as a "reformer", but her political career has also drawn sharp criticism. Questions have been raised about her fina...
Sep 19
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Ashrams and Moonies Perfect Case for Mind Control
"less prone, Thanks for your support Buddy! "
Sep 18
Doc Vega posted a photo

main-thumb-ti-6724328-100-cnsgqkrgkrhyeyyerazynmuwoplecnbx

When will they put Trump on Mt. Rushmore?
Sep 18
Doc Vega's 4 blog posts were featured
Sep 18
Burbia's blog post was featured

Charlie Kirk Assassination

September 10th 2025 in Utah Turning Point USA CEO has been assassinated. Coincidentally,  answering…See More
Sep 18
Charles Magus's blog post was featured

FURTHER PROOF OF WALK-INS! Prisoners of the Dulce Base by Sherry Shriner

There is a real connection between the Cabal and what is happening at this Undergroung…See More
Sep 18
Less Prone favorited Doc Vega's blog post Ashrams and Moonies Perfect Case for Mind Control
Sep 18
Less Prone commented on tjdavis's blog post Sentient World Simulation
"Cannot open the link"
Sep 18
Tina Sullivan is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Sep 18
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Sep 17
Sandy posted a video

We’re cooked

We’re cooked
Sep 17
Sandy posted a photo
Sep 17

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted