Seven nuclear reactors to be shut down in Germany

2011-03-15 22:04:23 GMT+7 (ICT)

BERLIN, GERMANY (BNO NEWS) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday announced that seven nuclear power plants will be shut down in Germany while the government conducts a safety inspection, the DPA news agency reported.

The announcement came one day after Merkel announced a suspension to her plans of extending the lifespan of the German nuclear reactors. Merkel said that the current crisis in Japan.

In addition, this month three state elections will be held and the nuclear issue could tip the balance in Merkel's center-right coalition of coalition of Christian Democrats and Free Democrats.

Officials said the priority is to guarantee safety in Germany's nuclear network and not discussing on the lifespan extension. On Monday, Merkel announced a three-month suspension of the decision to allow safety reviews.

On Tuesday, Merkel said that seven plants constructed before 1980 would be shut down for the duration of the moratorium. The remaining 10 active plants will be subject to thorough safety inspections.

We want to use the time of the moratorium to speed up our energy transition to renewable energy," said Merkel. "That means we will look at the infrastructure of that conversion, analyze it, and see where there are opportunities to accelerate it."

On Saturday, approximately 40,000 people formed a 45-kilometre human chain in Baden-Wuerttemberg demanding an immediate end to the use of nuclear energy.

In September 2010, Merkel's coalition of Christian Democrats and Free Democrats agreed to extend the lifespan of its 17 nuclear plants, pushing back a pledge of gradual phase-out of nuclear energy by former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-15

dam_n weasel politicians!