Germany may be forced to keep its coal-fired power plants running longer than planned if the global energy crisis continues. This is according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- If the energy crisis continues and a shortage actually occurs, we may even have to keep existing coal-fired power plants in operation for a longer period, Merz said in Frankfurt.
- We have to supply this country with electricity. I am not prepared to put the core of our industry at risk just because we have decided on phase-out plans that have become unrealistic, the German Chancellor added.
Energy prices have skyrocketed due to the war in Iran, which began on February 28.
As part of the country's climate goals, Germany has committed to gradually closing power plants that burn anthracite, a type of hard coal, and lignite. The country will phase out coal by 2038 at the latest.
Europe's largest economy has been working for decades on an energy transition away from fossil fuels and nuclear power by building up renewable energy sources.
Wants more flexibility in climate neutrality plans
Although Merz's government has promised to maintain national climate goals, it has prioritized strengthening the stagnant economy and has abolished some green energy initiatives. Under Merz, Germany has worked to ensure that the EU weakens the phase-out of sales of combustion-engine cars.
The German government has also proposed abolishing subsidies for solar panels on roofs and rolled back a law that required green heating of buildings.
Merz's Minister of Economics and Energy, Katherina Reiche, said earlier this week that more "flexibility" is needed in the EU's plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. That statement has sparked criticism both in Germany and internationally.
On Friday, Merz said he remains committed to further expanding renewable energy. But he will supplement with gas-fired power plants.
Under former Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany began closing its nuclear power plants. This happened in the wake of the 2011 disaster at the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima.
/ritzau/AFP
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