27 Nov (NucNet): The head of Germany-based utility group E.ON today called for a renewed public debate about the continued operation of the country�s nuclear power plants.

Chief executive officer Wulf Bernotat said: �Particularly in the current crisis, nuclear power is a strategic option for German energy policy, one that will help avoid shortages in the German electricity market and the resulting price increases. In the past, nuclear power has made a key contribution to Germany�s competitiveness.�

Mr Bernotat, who was addressing a conference in Berlin held by the German Energy Agency (DENA), said that despite current global economic problems E.ON stood by its planned investment programme for 2007 to 2010 of 63 billion euros (81 billion US dollars) and a �substantial increase� in the renewables� share of the group�s generating portfolio.

He said climate-protection policies should not be �derailed by the financial crisis�, adding: �Whether Germany remains competitive 10 or 20 years from now will depend, to a large degree, on whether it has an affordable, reliable, and climate-friendly supply of energy.�

Based in Dusseldorf, the E.ON group has around 88,000 employees in more than 20 countries. It operates nuclear power plants in Germany and Sweden.

Legislation which came into force in Germany in 2002 limits operating lifetimes of German reactor units to about 32 years. The legislation was aimed at ensuring a gradual phase-out of the use of nuclear power in Germany.

In January 2007, a Deutsche Bank study said that extending the lifetime of all nuclear power plants in Germany to 60 years would mean 19 gigawatts of nuclear generating capacity that would otherwise have to be replaced by 2020 would still be available.

A survey published in August 2008 indicated that more than half of the German population is in favour of extending operating times of the country�s existing nuclear power plants beyond 2021 � an increase in support since a similar survey five months� earlier.

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

Nuclear Extensions Needed For �Realistic� German Energy Policy, Says Study (News No. 20, 24 January 2007)

E.ON And Areva To Cooperate On New Nuclear Projects (News in Brief No. 50, 23 April 2008)

More Than Half German Population Supports Extended Operation Of N-Plants (News in Brief No. 99, 1 September 2008)

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