Germany shut down its last three nuclear power plants to achieve green goals without nuclear power.

The Fukushima accident accelerated the country's nuclear phaseout plan to achieve green goals.

Germany's last three nuclear plants generated 6 percent of the country's electricity.

The nuclear power withdrawal plan was suspended due to energy shortages caused by reduced Russian gas supplies.

Two nuclear plants were kept on standby until mid-April 2023 as a backup.

The planned nuclear exit was delayed due to the cut in Russian gas supplies threatening the country's energy security.

Germany increased its reliance on coal-fired power due to reduced gas supplies and electricity exports.

Germany's energy supply has been significantly impacted by reduced Russian gas supplies amid the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The energy crisis has led Germany to rely more on coal and natural gas for electricity.

The country's electricity price has risen 160% since 2019, causing industrial demand to fall in 2023.

Germany's chemical and fertilizer production has fallen to its lowest level due to the energy crisis.

Germany aims to be carbon neutral by 2045 as part of its transition to renewable energy.

Nuclear power was phased out by 2022, following a 2002 decision.

64% of Germans support restarting nuclear power to reduce prices.

Germany's carbon emissions could be cut by 25-30 million tons annually with the reintroduction of nuclear power.

Restarting nuclear power plants could be costly, with one plant's maintenance costs estimated at 50 million euros.

Extending nuclear reactors long-term would require costly maintenance and new fuel.

The German government must weigh the costs and benefits of reintroducing nuclear power into its energy mix.

Germany aims to reduce its dependence on Russian gas and diversify its energy imports.

Germany shut down its last three nuclear power plants to achieve green goals without nuclear power.

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Content: Home / News / World /  Germany quits nuclear power; shuts final 3 plants
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Germany has shut its final three nuclear plants, marking the end of the country's end of nuclear era that has spanned more than 60 years.

Nuclear power has long been contentious in Germany.

The move has come as Germany's eyes achieve its green goal. Steffi Lemke, Germany’s Federal Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection and a Green Party member, "The position of the German government is clear: nuclear power is not green. Nor is it sustainable".

Closure of three nuclear plant's history:

Germany shut three plants-- Emsland, Isar 2, and Neckarwestheim, representing the culmination of a plan set in motion more than 20 years ago.

During the 1970s, a strong anti-nuclear movement emerged in Germany. The movement gave birth to the green party, which is now part of governing coalition.

However, it was in the 2000s the German government pledged to phase out nuclear power and start shutting down plants.

But in 2009, a new government came to power and it seemed brief as if nuclear would get a reprieve as a bridging technology to help the country move to renewable energy.

Then Fukushima happened. In 2011, an earthquake and tsunami caused three reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant to melt down.

Three days later then-Chancellor Angela Merkel who was previously pro-nuclear, announced Germany would accelerate a nuclear phase-out, with older plants shuttered immediately.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine provided another plot twist.

Germany isn’t the only country committed to walking away from nuclear — Italy gave up the technology in 1990, and Lithuania recently struck a deal to dismantle its Soviet-era reactors, which have sat idle for over a decade. But in many advanced economies, nuclear is experiencing a resurgence.

On Sunday, Finland will start regular power production at Europe’s newest and biggest reactor. The 1,600-megawatt Olkiluoto-3 unit that faced years of delays had been planned to enter commercial production on Monday. France is planning to build at least six new reactors by 2050 as well as experiment with smaller, modular ones. The UK has similar ambitions. And even in Japan, after a decade of paralysis following the nuclear accident in Fukushima, the public is warming up to the use of nuclear power. The Japanese government wants to restart reactors that have sat idle since the disaster and to extend the lifespan of existing units.

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The Fukushima accident accelerated the country's nuclear phaseout plan to achieve green goals.

Germany's last three nuclear plants generated 6 percent of the country's electricity.

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Content: People 's Network > > International
German Chancellor calls for extension of three nuclear power plants
October 19, 2022 09: 58 | Source: Xinhua Network
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BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked the relevant authorities to develop a legal framework to allow all three remaining nuclear power plants in Germany to operate until mid-April next year.
Schorz made the decision public in a letter to the cabinet, the German Chancellor's office said.
"I request that the relevant proposed regulations be submitted to the Cabinet as soon as possible," the letter read.
According to the German government's plan, the three remaining nuclear power plants in Germany are scheduled to go offline by the end of this year.
However, due to the drastic reduction of natural gas supplies from Russia and the sharp decline in electricity exports from neighboring France to Germany, Germany has had to adjust its energy mix.
Falling gas supplies and soaring prices have led to fears of heating and energy shortages in Germany this winter, and domestic calls for continued use of nuclear power have soared.
On July 6, German Chancellor Gerhard Scholz (front right) received a routine inquiry at the German Federal Parliament in Berlin.
Photo by Xinhua reporter Ren Pengfei
In the first quarter of this year, the three nuclear power plants accounted for about 6 percent of Germany's total electricity generation.
The ruling coalition of the Social Democratic Party, the Green Party and the Liberal Democratic Party has been divided over the suspension of the nuclear power withdrawal plan.
German Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Climate Protection Robert Haberk announced at the end of September that the “Isar 2 ” nuclear power plant in Bavaria and the Neka Westerheim nuclear power plant north of Stuttgart will be in“ standby mode ” until mid-April next year.
In the event of a power shortage, the two nuclear power plants will be reactivated.
The Associated Press quoted German officials as saying at the time that the Amslan nuclear power plant in Lower Saxony would be shut down by the end of the year.
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner welcomed Scholz ’ s latest decision to extend the operating hours of the three nuclear power plants, saying a legal framework could be set up immediately.
This is a thermal power plant on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany, photographed on September 8.
Xinhua News Agency (photo by Stefan Caiz)
"It is in the vital interest of our country and our economy that we maintain all our energy production capacity this winter," Lindner wrote on social media.
Steffi Lemke, Germany ’ s minister for environment, nature protection, nuclear safety and consumer protection, said the latest decision was clearer and reiterated the continued phasing out of nuclear power, meaning there will be no further extension of the life of nuclear power plants after mid-April next year.
Since the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, the European Union and the United States have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia, but the reaction of the sanctions has plunged Europe into an energy crisis.
Germany and other European countries that are highly dependent on Russian energy, on the one hand, introduced measures to save energy, and on the other hand, looked for alternative energy sources. (Liu Xi)
(Editor: Liu Ye Ting, Liu Jieyan)
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The nuclear power withdrawal plan was suspended due to energy shortages caused by reduced Russian gas supplies.

Two nuclear plants were kept on standby until mid-April 2023 as a backup.

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Content: Germany says two nuclear plants will remain on standby until mid-April 2023
World News
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / tqy1
Germany said on Monday it would keep two nuclear plants on standby beyond the end of the year in a political shift as a cut in Russian gas supplies threatens Europe with an energy crisis.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a speech that following a new grid stress test, two of the remaining three power plants “will remain available until mid-April 2023 if needed, ” partially delaying a planned nuclear exit under former Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Source: AFP
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The planned nuclear exit was delayed due to the cut in Russian gas supplies threatening the country's energy security.

Germany increased its reliance on coal-fired power due to reduced gas supplies and electricity exports.

Germany's energy supply has been significantly impacted by reduced Russian gas supplies amid the Russian-Ukrainian war.

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Germany delays shutdown of two nuclear power plants until mid-April
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced on Friday that two of the three existing nuclear power plants will remain on standby after the scheduled December decommissioning deadline to ensure an adequate supply of electricity in the event of a gas shortage.
This was a compromise between pro-nuclear activists within the government and members of the Green Party who came from the anti-nuclear movement.
The move, which also requires new legislation and a vote in parliament, represents a sharp turn in policy for Germany, Europe ’ s largest economy, which has been pursuing a multi-year phase-out of nuclear and coal-fired power and will soon phase out natural gas in order to transition to renewable energy.
Although all three of Germany ’ s existing nuclear reactors will be shut down on December 31, Isar 2 and Neckarwetheim 2 in the southern region will remain on standby until mid-April to avoid an emergency.
Both plants generate 1400 megawatts (MW) of electricity and are operated by E.ON and EnBW, respectively, who will be compensated for their personnel costs and operating costs over the next few months.
Harbek said energy supplies are strained, in part because of Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine, which has led to restrictions or even suspension of Russian gas exports to Europe.
Natural gas accounted for 15.3% of Germany ’ s electricity generation last year.
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The energy crisis has led Germany to rely more on coal and natural gas for electricity.

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Content: In early 2023, Germany shut down its last nuclear power plants, so this winter will be Germany ’ s first “nuclear-free winter ”. Despite the German government ’ s vow to modernize its energy system and develop renewable energy, Germany ’ s fossil fuel consumption is higher and its power system is dirtier.
Commenting on Germany ’ s electricity problem, Reuters columnist Gavin Maguire wrote that the country ’ s electricity problem began with a gradual decline in the share of nuclear power in Germany ’ s power generation structure. In 2014, the contribution of nuclear power to Germany ’ s total electricity supply fell by only 6% in 2022, and finally dropped to zero after the last eight reactor outages in 2023.
According to the think tank Ember, Germany's last eight nuclear reactors generated about 8.1 gigawatts (8,000 megawatts) of electricity, a gap that was filled by solar and wind capacity.
It seems to be okay.
However, as solar power (Germany ’ s second largest clean power after wind) suffers from reduced sunlight this year, power generation will fall sharply this winter, and the total amount of clean electricity in Germany will also decline, but winter has always been Europe ’ s peak electricity consumption (heating demand), so German power producers are forced to increase the amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. of emissions.
According to the data, in the first nine months of 2023, Germany ’ s total electricity generation fell compared to last year, including clean electricity and fossil energy power; clean electricity fell by 5.6% compared to the same period in 2022, and fossil fuel power generation fell by 21%.
In other words, this year has been the most electricity efficient year in Germany since 2017.
But don ’ t think that ’ s a good thing, because Germany ’ s industrial electricity demand has fallen this year, and the economy has certainly followed suit.
Why is that so?
Data from the London Stock Exchange shows that the high price of electricity in Germany is a key factor. Compared to 2019, the price of electricity in Germany is 160% higher this year, although it is much better than the highest price last year (electricity prices soared last year due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, this year has fallen), but the German industry is still unwilling to pay.
According to data from the London Stock Exchange (LSEG), German chemical and fertilizer production (previously produced using abundant and cheap natural gas) has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade in 2023 as producers cut production.
Production of cars, steel, batteries and turbines has also been cut, causing Germany, Europe ’ s largest economy, to experience a rare export slump this year.
In order to support the German industrial recovery, the German government asked the power companies to suppress the cost of electricity, and actively increase the production of cheap renewable energy, did get some results, but after entering the autumn, the sunshine time reduced, Germany September to December's total solar power, must be more than 80% lower than the peak.
Since solar power has accounted for more than 20% of Germany ’ s total electricity generation each month in the past five months, such a serious decline in clean power production will inevitably lead to a tight overall electricity supply; in order to make up for the shortage of solar power, Germany can only maximize the use of wind power, wind power production in Germany will increase in winter.
In order to supplement the intermittent problem of wind power and ensure that the total generation of electricity rises as demand grows, power companies have to increase the generation of coal and gas, which can be controlled by power plants to balance the needs of the national electricity market.
Speaking of which, it is clear that Germany will have to rely more on fossil fuels to generate electricity, and its carbon emissions will inevitably increase.
In order to determine its ideal of a non-nuclear homeland, Germany has caused more pollution, and the cost of electricity is still high, which has hit the German industry.
In August of this year, economists criticized "Germany's economic recession is already the sick man of Europe", which is all related to the abandonment of nuclear power.
German power mix may get dirtier for 1st non-nuclear winter
# Germany # Electricity # Dirty # Carbon # Solar

The country's electricity price has risen 160% since 2019, causing industrial demand to fall in 2023.

Germany's chemical and fertilizer production has fallen to its lowest level due to the energy crisis.

Germany aims to be carbon neutral by 2045 as part of its transition to renewable energy.

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Content: Saturday 28 Jumada I 1443 AH - 1 January 2022 |
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Germany shuts down half of its nuclear plants
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German authorities on Friday shut down half of its nuclear plants still in operation, a year before the end of their decades-old use.
The three reactors, Brockdorf, Gründe and Gündermpengben, were commissioned and now closed for the first time in the mid-1980s.
Together, they have provided electricity to millions of German homes for nearly four decades.
The center-left government of Gerhard Schroeder made the decision in 2002 to phase out nuclear power and switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy, but his successor, Angela Merkel, reversed its decision to extend the life of German nuclear plants in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan and set 2022 as the deadline for their closure.
Some in Germany have called for the decision to end the use of nuclear power to be reconsidered again because already operating power plants produce relatively little carbon dioxide.
Advocates of atomic energy argue that it could help Germany meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets.
The German government said this week that shutting down all nuclear plants next year and then phasing out coal use by 2030 would not affect the country ’ s energy security or its goal of making Europe ’ s largest economy “climate neutral ” by 2045.
The remaining three nuclear plants – Emsland, Essar and Neckarostheim – will be decommissioned by the end of 2022.

Nuclear power was phased out by 2022, following a 2002 decision.

64% of Germans support restarting nuclear power to reduce prices.

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Content: World Vision: Restarting nuclear power, dragging the German government into crisis
November 06, 2022 00: 03
Eastern Network Television
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With Germany following the NATO sanctions against Russia, the German energy crisis is deepening and leading to serious political instability.
The gold-painted sign “Made in Germany ” has been peeled off. First, the business community complained about the high price of electricity in Germany, averaging 0.37 euros per kilowatt-hour (kWh), compared with 0.18 euros in France, 0.24 euros in the United Kingdom and 0.10 euros in Hungary.
Even if the German government proposed energy subsidies, but other European governments such as Britain and France will do so, German companies still can not compete. The result is that more and more industrial products that Germany was proud of in the past, either set up factories in foreign countries or import some foreign parts to complete in Germany.
In addition, some townships began to have problems with the opening up and strengthening of thermal power generation and transmission, and now there are rare power outages, which have caused great dissatisfaction among the public.
The Minister of Economy and Deputy Prime Minister Hajbek have become the target of attacks by the industrial sector, the German opposition, and the Liberal and Social Democrats in the government, focusing on Habek, who has no economic expertise but is responsible for the environmental ideology, and the government ’ s lack of understanding and compassion for industry, and has been deceiving the three nuclear power plants.
Halbek has always stressed that the German people have long been the majority of anti-nuclear power, but the latest poll shows that 64% of the people support restarting nuclear power to increase supply and reduce electricity prices due to the energy crisis, with 40% of the Green Party voters.
In addition, the Green Party has spoken out in favor of improving climate change, but has been hiding experts ’ suggestions that turning on nuclear power could cut Germany ’ s carbon emissions by 25 million to 30 million tons a year.
In addition, Halbek stressed that the nuclear fuel rods needed for the nuclear power plant may not be available by early next year, but the expert opinion is that the old nuclear fuel rods can also be used and the nuclear power plant can be gradually opened.
Halbek stressed that it would take a long time to open the safety inspection of nuclear power, but the world-famous German Technical Supervision Association immediately hit the face, claiming that they did a comprehensive inspection in March, all three nuclear power plants are normal, as long as limited further testing and monitoring, restart is not a problem at all.
The opposition party also criticized the three-party coalition government for delaying the setting of a gas price cap until March next year. At that time, the weather in Germany has begun to warm up. As a result, the opposition party and the public demand that Habaker resign, which can be regarded as the ruling coalition's biggest crisis to date.
Ph.D., Freie Universität Berlin

Germany's carbon emissions could be cut by 25-30 million tons annually with the reintroduction of nuclear power.

Restarting nuclear power plants could be costly, with one plant's maintenance costs estimated at 50 million euros.

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Content: Despite his opponents...
Europe 'chooses' nuclear power to pass harsh winter
Europeans suffering from a severe energy crisis will set a date with a historic test this winter, with the first attack of the cold, in a way that cannot be trusted.
The old continent has experienced an unusual warmth in recent weeks, which slightly eased the pressure on its decision-makers, but it soon found itself faced with the consequences of a drought crisis like no other in Europe in 500 years.
The European Commission said in its latest report that it was the worst drought in five centuries, warning of the risks and major environmental losses caused by it.
The most prominent of these losses affected the production of nuclear energy, the strength of electricity in Europe today, and the alternative solution sought by some countries in light of the energy crisis with Russia.
Although European nuclear power has been the biggest sponsor of the rupture in German-French relations, it is now seen as a solution to the electricity crisis.
New countries are also seeking accreditation, such as Poland, which two days ago opted for a US offer to build its first nuclear power plant.
At the same time, the countries that possess this energy are seeking to increase and strengthen their reactors, undeterred by the opposition of peoples and voices calling for renewable energy.
Germany and the return to nuclear
In Germany, work has begun on two nuclear reactors that were due to be shut down by the end of this year, in line with the country ’ s plan to graduate from nuclear power.
The project will cost around 100 million euros and will be operational after December.
This comes at a time when the nuclear power plant "Isar 2" plans to carry out maintenance at a cost of about 50 million euros, and the preparatory work at the nuclear plant "Neckaroisthaim-2" will cost a similar amount.
The shutdown of nuclear power plants was one of the most prominent demands of the German people in recent demonstrations in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hannover, Stuttgart, Dresden and Frankfurt, especially supporters of the Green Party and supporters of the transition to green energy.
Kenzbendit, 29, said: “We Greens have been fighting nuclear power in Germany for decades, in the streets and now in the government.
Kensbendit told Erm News: "We do not know how the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Environment was deceived and delayed for months in order to prevent the extension of German nuclear power plants."
The young man who participated in the recent demonstrations added that "energy policy is not really for politicians, because they think and work to implement their political agendas, but energy policy is always long-term, and granting the tasks of the Environmental Self-Awareness Squad to the Ministry of Economy is illogical.
"The extension of the work at the nuclear power plant is incredible, disregarding and insulting the demands of the people, and will make Germany" ridiculous "all over the world," he said.
Paris turns its back on the environment
France is the world ’ s largest producer of nuclear energy, generating 70 percent of its electricity from 56 nuclear reactors and exporting to neighboring countries.
Nuclear reactors in France have suffered and half of them have been shut down due to malfunctions or drought, causing electrical output to fall to its lowest level in 30 years, and exports to fall by almost half, according to the latest government reports.
This led the French administration to increase the power of nuclear reactors and change the plan to gradually abandon nuclear reactors in favor of renewable sources such as the sun and wind.
The French move, analysts predict, will meet public anger and opposition from countries around the world seeking to combat climate change and calling for nuclear power to be replaced by other sources, in addition to the heavy financial burden on the French government.
It is well known that nuclear power is not practical in the economic sense, otherwise France would not need to nationalize EDF to be able to operate the reactors with government support.
Drought disrupts nuclear power
The drought crisis will significantly limit this planned expansion, according to data from nuclear reactor operators, because nuclear plants use large amounts of fresh water from rivers and lakes for cooling, and reduced river flows as a result of drought will reduce electricity generation at nuclear power plants.
According to French energy advisor Bernard Labonch, nuclear power is not only about the best way to generate electricity, but it is a historical legacy in France that is inextricably linked to nationalism, and it is taboo for any French citizen to advocate against nuclear power.
"If you want to get a job as an engineer or researcher in France you have to be a proponent of nuclear energy, so there are very few who openly criticize it," he said.
Thus, all indications are that nuclear energy will remain in France for decades to come, despite widespread public opposition and environmental warnings about the dangers posed by the water that nuclear power plants dump into rivers after they have used it for cooling, and the dangers it poses to ecosystems, fish and aquatic plants.
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Extending nuclear reactors long-term would require costly maintenance and new fuel.

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Content: Global News
Germany is extending the life of its reactors.
The Winter Challenge is postponing future plans.
You are now following the news that Germany is extending the life of its reactors.
The winter challenge postpones future plans from the World News section and now we leave you with full details
Mohammed - Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 18 October 2022 08: 23 AM - German Chancellor Olaf Schulz ordered on Monday evening to extend the operation of the country's three remaining nuclear reactors until next April, to avoid the country's energy shortage crisis this winter.
Schulz, in a statement, asked the ministries of economy, environment and finance to establish the legal basis for the continuation of the nuclear plants in operation, adding that "the plants of Isar 2, Neckaroisheim 2 and Island, will be operated beyond the deadline of December 31, to become until April 15, 2023."
This is one of the most significant consequences of Ukraine ’ s war on Germany, which had previously planned to phase out nuclear power by the end of 2022, but a shortage of energy supplies after cutting imports from Russia caused a trend to extend it.
Hostility to nuclear power
In 1998, the Socialists' alliance with the Greens won the elections with an anti-nuclear program, and after talks with the electricity companies they agreed to set a shorter life span for nuclear reactors, which was limited to 32 years.
• Details included that this was based on the production of certain quantities of electricity and not according to the period of time, and not to build new reactors, but again set a date to stop the stations, which is the end of 2022, and the agreement was turned into a law in 2002.
The law resulted in the closure of Steed in 2003 and Obergheim in 2005.
• In 2009, the Christian Democratic Party led by Angela Merkel came to power, and the country had 17 nuclear plants, and the government decided to extend the operation of 7 plants in 8 years and the other 10 within 14 years.
After the Fukushima accident, the government suspended the 10-year extension and decided to suspend the reactors that had been extended for seven years.
• In 2011, it decided to close 8 reactors and close the remaining 9 by 2022, with the last plants closed at the end of 2021.
The challenge of survival
Ahmed Al-Qarout, senior analyst at the British consulting firm Spyline, believes that the German chancellor ’ s decision to extend the work of the remaining plants is part of Germany ’ s plan to diversify energy sources.
Al-Qarout pointed out in an interview with "Dot Al-Khaleej" that Germany has moved even to return to coal, despite its environmental impact in the future, but "there are priorities in life, foremost of which is the priority of survival, so the future cannot be secured without focusing on the present."
On whether it will take longer to use nuclear power, the economic analyst prefers to wait until the winter to clear the vision on the provision of alternatives, especially as Germany ’ s energy contracts with Qatar start in 2023.
He predicted that the Germans will cross the energy crisis by finding alternatives, but the crisis "lies in the rise in energy prices, because Germany gets energy from America three and four times the price, which reflects on the cost of living."
Extension Options
The economist, Anas Al-Hajji, sees in an article, that the decision to extend the reactors means that there are two ways:
The first is simple: what will remain of nuclear fuel at the end of the year will not be completely depleted, so the reactors can continue to operate until the end of the winter, which everyone fears.
- The second option, long-term, is that if the government decides to extend for years, it means stopping the reactors for months of maintenance, then adding new nuclear fuel, and then starting the reactors again, which is an expensive process, but may reduce the energy problem for years, especially if gas prices remain high.
We hope that we have succeeded in conveying the full details of the news of Germany extending the life of its reactors..
The Winter Challenge delays plans for the future.
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The German government must weigh the costs and benefits of reintroducing nuclear power into its energy mix.

Germany aims to reduce its dependence on Russian gas and diversify its energy imports.

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Content: Germany To Postpone Closure Of Last Three Nuclear Power Plants - WSJ

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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th August, 2022) Germany, faced with possible energy shortages in the winter as gas supplies from Russia have dropped, intends to postpone the closure of its last three nuclear power plants (NPPs) in a move marking a departure from a two-decade policy to abandon nuclear energy, The Wall Street Journal reported citing German government officials.

The decision, which has to be formally adopted by the cabinet of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and would possibly require a vote in Parliament, could be weeks off, but already now the German government says two key conditions have been met that allow a temporary extension of the life of the three remaining NPPs, currently expected to close December 31: the possibility of a gas shortage and the confidence that a longer operation of reactors would pose no safety concern, according to the officials.

"The reactors are safe until Dec. 31, and obviously they will remain safe also after Dec. 31," the WSJ quoted a senior official as saying.

Scholz last week said for the first time that it could make sense to keep Germany's last three nuclear reactors online.

However, even if the life of the three German NPPs is extended, this will not be a panacea for Germany's looming energy crisis this winter as the country is mainly missing natural gas, primarily used for heating and manufacturing.

The European Union has been seeking to diversify energy imports and reduce dependence on Russia after Moscow started its special military operation in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly said that Russia has never used gas supplies to punish anyone, but sells energy solely in its own interests, to increase the welfare of Russians and on a commercial basis.

The German government has also outlined measures to reduce gas and power consumption in the country over the next two years. The measures in particular include lowering the temperature in public buildings. According to Germany's energy regulator, gas consumption will have to be cut by 20 percent if Germany wants to avoid a gas shortfall during this coming winter and next winter.

The three officials who spoke to the WSJ said the extension of the NPPs' life would only be made for several months.

The power plants in question are Isar 2 in the southern state of Bavaria, Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Wurttemberg and Emsland in Lower Saxony. They are operated, respectively, by E.On SE, EnBW AG, and RWE AG.

After the start of Russia's special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, the West has stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia, which has led to an increase in prices for energy and food in Europe and the United States.