Germany’s nuclear farewell splits the country in two

The fact that the last 3 nuclear power plants in Germany are closed as of today has provoked intense criticism.

The coalition government, which includes the Greens party, which puts environmental policies and green energy on the party’s agenda, announced that the last 3 nuclear power plants in the country will be shut down and taken off the grid starting in today.

While the government claimed that power plants were outdated and dangerous, opposition parties criticized the closure of nuclear plants by keeping coal-fired power plants open in an environment of energy crisis. The opposition draws attention to the fact that the coal mines were reopened to avoid power cuts in the country after the energy crisis that began with the Russian occupation of Ukraine and the closure of the Nord Stream pipeline that brings Russian natural gas to Germany .

‘A BLACK DAY FOR THE CLIMATE’

Jens Spahn, one of the CDU/CSU politicians from the political alliance formed by the two Christian Democratic parties of Germany, the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union, which are in opposition, said that the ministers of the party of the Greens, who opened up coal mines for electricity, banned clean nuclear power and that day is “a dark situation for the climate in Germany,” he said.

A group of international scientists, including Nobel Prize-winning scientists and famous climate researchers, sent an open letter to Prime Minister Olaf Scholz, noting that “nuclear power would be more beneficial for the environment than coal.” In the open letter, it was underlined that France, England, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands plan to build new nuclear power plants, while Belgium and Switzerland are seeking ways to extend the operating licenses of existing nuclear power plants.

ATTENTION TO NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS

Climate minister Robert Habeck of the Green Party said the closure of nuclear power plants, which accounted for 4 to 6 percent of the country’s power last year, would not affect energy security. The government drew attention to aging nuclear power plants and accidents at nuclear power plants, including Fukushima in Japan.

According to local media, coal accounted for just over 30 percent of electricity generation in Germany in 2022. 22 percent of wind power, 13 percent of gas-fired power, 10 percent of power Solar and biofuels, including nuclear and hydroelectric power, were used to generate the rest. (DHA)