| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| Germany Shuts Down Second Atomic Reactor -- Kyoto Targets at Risk |
| 2005-05-11 |
| EFL Germany closed down a second atomic reactor -- also the country's oldest -- on Wednesday. The move is part of a government policy to phase out nuclear power. After nearly 37 years in operation, Germany's oldest atomic reactor, in Obrigheim, was disconnected on Wednesday, Baden-WÃŒrttemberg state officials said. Energie Baden-WÃŒrttemberg (EnBW) said the shutdown would cost some 500 million euros ($642 million). The three-phase shutdown process is expected to last until around 2020, the company said. Obrigheim is the second reactor that was shut down as a result of national legislation agreed between the EnBW and the red-green coalition government in the summer of 2000. The first to close was E.ON's 672 mw Stade reactor, which was switched off in November 2003. The 340 megawatt Obrigheim reactor will be prepared for final shut down over the course of the year. There are 17 other atomic reactors still active in Germany. The policy of phasing out nuclear energy is still subject to debate, however. Industry and political opposition want it to be reviewed but the government is standing firm by the 2000 decision. Baden-WÃŒrttemberg relies on nuclear energy for 55 percent of its electricity. Replacing lost local nuclear power with imported nuclear power from France or restarting idled coal plants does not make sense, especially if Germany wants to meet climate protection targets, B-W Environment Minister Tanja Gönner said. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #4 Doncha love Wonderland? |
| Posted by: Alice 2005-05-11 22:06 |
| #3 Starve to death in the dark as per the |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-05-11 17:56 |
| #2 Replacing lost local nuclear power with imported nuclear power from France or restarting idled coal plants does not make sense, especially if Germany wants to meet climate protection targets, B-W Environment Minister Tanja Gönner said. So the question becomes: whatcha gonna do? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-05-11 17:17 |
| #1 I thought they already failed at making their "Kyoto goals", even counting the E. German shutdowns |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-05-11 17:04 |