Delaying tactics

"We want clarity by the summer break," declared Economics Minister Rainer Bruederle on Thursday, addressing the government's torturous energy policy after a meeting between the chancellery and Germany's top four energy companies.

Chancellery Chief of Staff Ronald Pofalla, along with state secretaries for the economy and the environment, met the representatives of E.ON, RWE, Vattenfall and EnBW for a highly anticipated meeting. Top of the agenda was the proposed extension to the life-spans of the 17 nuclear power stations operating in the country.

Questions have been raised recently about the safety of nuclear power, following repeated accidents at Vattenfall's nuclear power stations Kruemmel and Brunsbuettel in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, and there were protests in front of the chancellery ahead of the meeting.

Delaying the decision

The details of Thursday's discussion remain secret, but it seems that both sides have agreed to overturn the current law and extend nuclear power and use part of the profits to develop renewable energy. Under the current nuclear power law, all power stations would be phased out by 2022, but Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen has apparently already begun negotiations to extend the life-spans.

The government is determined to take at least half of the extra profits from any agreed upon extension to be invested in the research and development of new technology for renewable energy. Before the meeting, Roettgen told reporters, "There will be a dynamic process by which renewable energy will replace nuclear power and fossil fuels."

The energy companies are putting pressure on the government to make its decision as soon as possible, as two of the older power stations are due for closure soon, but the government coalition is delaying a decision in the face of massive public opposition to nuclear power. Rumors have also emerged that the energy companies are not optimistic about the talks.

Consumer Protection Minister Ilse Aigner also called for the extra profits that an extension would entail to be passed on to the consumer. "The companies stand to get significant economic advantages through these extensions. They must benefit the consumers," she said.

"The large energy companies have been marked recently by constant price hikes and poor service," Aigner added. She now expects clear declarations of stable prices and a safe energy supply.

Opposition criticism

The political opposition sharply criticized the government's energy policy. Social Democratic Party leader and former environment minister Sigmar Gabriel spoke at a demonstration against the planned extensions in front of the chancellery, warning that extensions would exacerbate Germany's atomic waste problems. "We're producing more radioactive waste just to make money to dispose of old waste," he said. "That's an obscene offer."

Green party leader Juergen Trittin accused the government of keeping its energy policy secret so that it would not affect May's crucial state election in North Rhine-Westphalia. "While the population and parliament are being left in the dark until after the NRW election, plans are being completed in the chancellery."

bk/dpa/Reuters
Editor: Rick Demarest