Magdeburg (dpa/sa) - Saxony-Anhalt's Energy Minister Armin Willingmann (SPD) is open to an earlier phase-out of coal in the east. "At the moment, security of supply is clearly taking precedence. And in view of the temporary price brakes imposed by the federal government, we must continue to keep an eye on the affordability of energy in the interests of companies and consumers," said the SPD politician to the German Press Agency on Monday. But it is also a fact that the current heavy use of gas and coal for electricity generation means that the CO2 targets are well below the target.
"And this catching-up process will only succeed if, after the acute crisis, there is agreement that we can and must now get out of fossil fuels more quickly," he said. "In the train you can then also talk about an earlier exit from lignite than 2038, especially since the depletion of existing areas in Saxony-Anhalt will end earlier anyway."
Economics Minister Robert Habeck is also pushing for an earlier phase-out of coal in the east. An early exit to 2030 must be agreed by consensus, said the Green politician. "I hereby promise the prime minister and all employees that this will not be decided par Ordre du Mufti, but it must be perceived as a good plan in a broad alliance." He has good arguments for the plan.
According to the current legal situation, the last decommissioning of power plant blocks in Germany is planned for 2038 - at the operator Leag in Lusatia.
