German environment minister: largest nuclear power plant may remain open due to war in Ukraine | Abroad

According to Lemke, a stress test of the German energy supply should show whether the plant will be closed or not. “If the stress test shows that Bavaria has a serious electricity problem, the government will evaluate the situation and the associated opportunities that arise.”

Lemke is a member of Die Grünen. That green party has always been vehemently against keeping nuclear power stations open. Years ago, after the nuclear disaster in Japan’s Fukushima in 2011, Germany decided to close the country’s nuclear power plants and switch to greener energy. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put the security of gas supplies in jeopardy.

There are now calls for the three largest power stations in the country, including those in Bavaria, to remain open. The Isar 2 is Germany’s largest and provides about 12 percent of the annual energy needs of the state of Bavaria and provides energy for about 3.5 million German households, according to operator PreussenElektra, a subsidiary of energy company EON.

Robert Habeck, the German Minister of Economy and Climate, has asked for a new survey into Germany’s energy security. An earlier study concluded that no problems are expected for the winter for the time being. It is not yet clear when the results of the latest research will be ready.

Opposition parties are calling for a reversal of the closure of the power stations. German gas supplies fell earlier this month after Russia cut gas supplies to the country. According to regulator Bundesnetzagentur, Germany is on track to replenish its scarce reserves of natural gas. However, the watchdog called on German industry to make greater efforts to reduce gas consumption.