Brussels, 10/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - At the Energy Council in Luxembourg on Friday 10 June, several member states spoke of their concerns as to the consequences of the German decision to forego nuclear energy by 2022. Germany's neighbours are concerned at the consequences of this decision on prices and security of supply. Germany will no longer be able to export electricity with eight of its 17 nuclear reactors being shut down immediately, though the decision will have little impact on German consumers, said Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger.
In the debate by ministers on the “2050 roadmap” (which the European Commission is due to present before they end of the year), Germany set out its plans for ending its use of nuclear power.
Several countries, including Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands stated that the German decision has or will have definite consequences for the internal market. France intends to send a letter to the Hungarian Presidency, the incoming Polish Presidency and the Commission to set out its point of view on the matter. Belgium said, too, that the 2050 roadmap should take account of the German decision to forego nuclear power.
Tamás Fellegi, Hungarian National Development Minister, said “we are aware of the consequences but we must wait for the results of the studies before conclusions can be drawn”. He added that, although a number of decisions have an impact on other EU countries, one must foresee a mechanism for coordination exercises to take into account any supply difficulties.
Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger told reporters that Germany was going to lose its electricity export capacity with the immediate closure of 8 of its 17 nuclear reactors, but the decision will have little impact on German consumers. He underlined that the eight reactors destined for closure account for 10% of the German electricity market and less than 3% of the European market. He added that, last year, Germany produced far more electricity than it consumed. “Germany's decision to close 9 more by 2022 nonetheless causes problems for its neighbours to the east and to the west as Germany is at the heart of Europe and its electricity market is the largest of the European Union”, he acknowledged. An analysis will be carried out of the consequences of this decision, to be discussed by energy ministers this autumn, he announced. It is obvious that Germany's decision will have an impact on the other energy sources, especially wind power and gas, Oettinger said. Russia, which provides the EU with 520 billion cubic metres of gas annually, will become an essential partner and, for that reason, it is necessary to diversify supply sources and supply routes, he explained. (L.C./transl.rt/jl)