The Neckarwestheim nuclear power plant in Germany.
After offering a small shred of hope that it might be persuaded to keep its remaining power reactors in operation a bit longer to reduce its dependence on Russia for energy, Germany has opted to continue with its nuclear phaseout. The last three operating German reactors, Neckarwestheim-2, Isar-2, and Emsland, are slated for shutdown later this year.
According to a March 8 report from Reuters, “After looking at both short-term and mid-term scenarios, [the German government] decided that the costs and risks of keeping nuclear facilities open outweighed limited benefits.”
Reassess: In neighboring Belgium, however, despite the coalition government’s agreement in December to retire the nation’s seven reactors by 2025, some seem to be having at least a trace of a second thought. In a March 7 Reuters piece, Green Party energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten is quoted as saying, “Plan A [the December agreement] is ready and feasible, but reassessment is needed with Ukraine.”
