German plants may close despite an energy crisis in both countries.
Despite the fact that both countries are experiencing an energy crisis, it seems likely that the German facilities will be shut down.
Rob Jetten, the Dutch Minister of Climate and Energy, told reporters on Wednesday that he had asked Robert Habeck, the German Minister of Economy, whether or not Germany’s three remaining nuclear power reactors might be allowed to remain operational.
However, according to Jetten, there is a good chance that this won’t be doable.
Last year, Germany shut down three of its last six nuclear power facilities, and the country is currently planning to shut down the other three nuclear power plants by the end of this year.
Even after Germany voluntarily shut down the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia and reduced Russian energy imports through other connections, the closures will still go ahead. This is due to the fact that renewable energy is delivering lacklustre results for Europe’s predominant industrial power.
This year, the Netherlands intends to stop importing gas from Russia. However, the Dutch government is hesitant to drill in the gas-rich area of Groningen, so officials are looking to their neighbour for assistance in meeting their gas needs.
In an interview in The Hague, Jetten was quoted as saying, “I only asked them if it’s technically viable to keep the nuclear power stations operational.” Bloomberg reported that the statement was made.
On the other hand, the minister admitted that “They’ve already taken so many precautions to shut them down, and there’s probably not enough fuel to keep them operating for a bit longer.”
Although some politicians in Berlin have called for an extension, the coalition government – of which the anti-nuclear Greens are a member – has refused to even consider the idea. The three different companies that operate Germany’s three plants have all ruled out the possibility of extending the lifespans of their facilities.
In the meantime, industrial production in Germany has fallen by a significant amount, leading to the nation recording a trade deficit in May for the first time in thirty years.
Rationing of hot water has been implemented in a number of German towns, and on Wednesday, the daily Bild warned of an impending “gigantic gas catastrophe” in the country during the winter months.
In addition to the prospect of drilling in Groningen, the Netherlands has increased the amount of liquefied natural gas that it receives from other countries through sea.
In addition, the Dutch intend to start up two new nuclear power facilities in the 2030s, and they intend to keep the country’s one and only nuclear reactor operational until at least 2033.
