Germany has decided to close all its nuclear power plants by 2022,
France Press cites the German Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen.
The country will expand the use of alternative energy sources and
build the necessary electric lines.
Rottgen said that the decision was inspired by the accident in Japan,
where the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant was damaged by an earthquake
and a tsunami on March 11. Thus, Germany will become the first
advanced state to abandon nuclear energy.
A series of accidents at Fukushima-1 was caused by damage to the
cooling system. The plant had several radiation releases. People were
evacuated within a range of 20 km. There were reports on radioactive
elements in several regions. Japan registered isotopes of iodine and
cesium in the sea and pure water, as well as air.
The social-democrats and environmental groups passed a plan to
gradually abandon nuclear energy use by 2022. The government prolonged
operation of 17 nuclear power plants by 8-14 years, depending on the
age of the plants, in exchange for 30 billion euros for renewable
energy. The last nuclear power plant will be shut down in 2035.
Germany has only 4 nuclear reactors operating out of 17. They are the
second reactor of the Izar, Brokdorf and reactors at Nekkarwestheim
and Gundremminger. The rest have been shut down for inspection for 3
months.
Germany's nuclear plants produce 21,497,000 MW, which is 23% of total
electricity production, according to 2009.
Over 20 German cities held protests against nuclear energy on Saturday.
