The German Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, ruled out this Sunday the possibility of extending the useful life of the three nuclear power plants that remain in the country, stating that this would save a maximum of 2% of gas consumption.
These savings are not enough to make it worthwhile to reopen the debate on nuclear power, the official said during a debate with citizens at the government's open day.
The plants are scheduled to close by the end of the year under legislation introduced by former Chancellor Angela Merkel's government following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in Japan.
"It's a wrong decision considering how little we would save," Habeck said.
However, Habeck was open to extending the life of a nuclear power plant in Bavaria if a stress test shows that it is necessary to ensure the stability and supply of the power grid in winter. Test results are expected in the coming weeks.
The southern state relies on gas-fired power plants and has few coal-fired plants and low wind power output.
