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World / Europe

Scholz orders 3 German nuclear plants to run until mid-April

Published: 17 Oct 2022 - 08:05 pm | Last Updated: 17 Oct 2022 - 08:07 pm
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz looks at weapons during a visit to a military base of the German army Bundeswehr in Bergen, Germany, on October 17, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz looks at weapons during a visit to a military base of the German army Bundeswehr in Bergen, Germany, on October 17, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

AP

Berlin: Chancellor Olaf Scholz has ordered ministers to prepare to keep all of Germany's three remaining nuclear plants running until mid-April to fend off a possible energy crunch.

Scholz’s office said the German leader announced the decision Monday in a letter to the Cabinet.

The move overrides the views of two coalition partners who had been locked in a bitter debate over the issue.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the environmentalist Greens had argued that only two should continue operating beyond the scheduled shutdown on December 31.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democrats had suggested all three could continue operating beyond April.