CEO of Germany's Largest Energy Company: "No Extension of Nuclear Plant Lifespan... Operation Ends by Year-End"

Leo Burnbaum Aeon CEO [Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Leo Burnbaum, CEO of E.ON, Germany's largest energy company, announced that the lifespan of the single nuclear power plant currently in operation will not be extended and that it will be shut down as planned by the end of this year.

According to major foreign media on the 11th (local time), CEO Burnbaum said, "There is no future for nuclear power in Germany," adding, "There will be no changes either legislatively or in public opinion."

Currently, three nuclear power plants are operating in Germany. E.ON operates one of them, the 'Isar 2' nuclear power plant near Munich.

Germany set a plan to phase out nuclear power generation after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan in 2011. Germany plans to stop all nuclear power operations by the end of this year, and accordingly, CEO Burnbaum stated that the Isar 2 nuclear power plant will also cease operations as originally planned by the end of this year.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, there were expectations that Germany's energy policy might change. This is because, as part of sanctions against Russia, imports of Russian oil and gas must be halted in the long term. Robert Habeck, Deputy Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, who previously served as co-leader of the Green Party, also said that ideological reasons would not prevent decisions to extend the lifespan of nuclear power plants.

CEO Burnbaum said there were serious discussions with the government. However, he stated, "The government made a clear decision to give up one option, and we could understand the government's decision," adding, "Extending the lifespan of nuclear power plants is now a closed chapter for us."

The German government is focusing on accelerating the transition to eco-friendly energy rather than extending the lifespan of nuclear power plants in preparation for the suspension of Russian gas supplies. Recently, Germany signed a natural gas supply contract with Qatar and an eco-friendly hydrogen energy agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

CEO Burnbaum said that technically, the Isar 2 nuclear power plant could operate beyond this year, but he welcomed the shutdown. He said, if Russian gas supplies are cut off, supply chain disruptions will worsen, and economic activities will contract more severely than during the COVID-19 crisis.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.