Kruemmel and Brunsbuettel nuclear plants have been shut since 2007 summer after a safety-related incident and will have to be re-fitted to high safety standards, which automatically adds to their remaining running time under Germany’s nuclear exit program.
…Brunsbuettel has even lower safety reserves than…Kruemmel, said Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s environment minister.
Germany’s remaining 17 reactors have used over half their allowances to generate limited amount of electricity up to 2021 under the agreement between the industry and government, which came into force in 2002.
The operators may shift remaining quotas from older nuclear plants to new ones without approval, in line with the deal’s intention to promote nuclear safety and reduce risks.
German environment ministry must consider and rule on their intentions to transfer volumes in other direction, which would be the case for Vattenfall’s two northern plants.
Gabriel has rejected all such plans.
The plans comprised of RWE AG’s application to transfer quotas from its Lingen reactor in Emsland to its Biblis plant in Hesse and EnBW Energie Baden-Wurttemberg AG’s attempt to seek clearance for a plan to shift quotas from its Neckar 2 reactor to number 1 at the same plant.
The operators argue the agreements needs reversing as anti-nuclear sentiment that led to its emergence, the shifts back in favor due to the technology’s economics and near zero carbon emissions.
The operators are biding their time, hoping for a policy change in September 2009 if conservative parties win national elections.
