In the dispute over the term of the remaining nuclear power plants in Germany, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) expressed his surprise at the letter from a nuclear power plant operator. The operator of the Isar 2 power plant, Preussenelektra, had objected to Habeck's plans in a letter to the economics department: The proposal to send two of the three running plants to the cold reserve in order to start them up if necessary was not technically feasible. Habeck said on Wednesday in Berlin: "I took note of the letter from Preussenelektra with some astonishment."

Habeck accused the group of not having understood the concept of the emergency reserve. Because there are no plans to start up and shut down the systems. Rather, it is intended to "decide once whether the power plants are needed or not". This could happen in December, January or February. "The technicians at Preussenelektra obviously missed that," said the Greens politician. In addition, Habeck referred to an earlier letter from the energy company in August, in which it stated that a short-term standstill would also be necessary in the event of a longer stretching operation. According to Habeck, this information from the group contradicts itself.

New discussions should bring clarification

Now it should be clarified in new talks what applies, said Habeck. The Economics Minister also pointed out that an overhaul would have been necessary even if the line had been stretched, "that is the obvious wish of Preussenelektra".

The "Spiegel" was the first to quote from the letter from Preussenelektra boss Guido Knott to the State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Patrick Graichen. Preussenelektra belongs to Germany's largest energy group Eon.