Dresden (dpa/sn) - In the debate about replacing Russian energy supplies, Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) spoke out in favor of longer operating times for nuclear power plants. If climate protection and CO2 savings are so important, then he would let the remaining nuclear power plants continue to run, said Kretschmer on Tuesday at his government's mid-term review in Dresden.
The power plants are there, all you need is new fuel. "And then they keep going. You can do that for two years, for three or four, or just for one." Germany has decided to phase out nuclear energy. But it is not decisive whether this happens two or three years earlier or later.
According to Kretschmer, the price of energy plays a crucial role. Security of supply, environmental compatibility and energy prices should all be taken into account in equal measure. In order to keep an economy competitive, you need competitive prices.
Kretschmer's deputy, Energy and Environment Minister Wolfram Günther (Greens), on the other hand, made it clear that the fuel rods for the nuclear power plants would also come from Russia. In addition, a fundamental safety review of the nuclear power plants is due every ten years.
With a view to phasing out nuclear power, the power plants were last thoroughly checked 13 years ago. If you want to extend the terms, you have to do this check now - but these are huge procedures that cannot be carried out in a few months.
