German chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that his government would pave the way for prolonging the runtime of all three of Germany’s remaining reactors until April 2023, reports online news agency Clean Energy Wire. The country’s leader has intervened to settle a dispute about the delayed end of nuclear power in Germany which has kept his coalition government in conflict for several months. The decision was made in light of the European energy crisis and went further than an earlier proposal by the country’s economy ministry for just two of the plants. However, the chancellor’s decision means that the foreshadowed nuclear exit will not be changed in principle and no new fuel rods will be purchased, thus ending nuclear power in Germany by April next year. The limited runtime extension – which still needs approval by parliament – is seen as a compromise for his coalition partners, the Green Party and the pro-business FDP, made ahead of what is expected to become a difficult winter for Germany’s and Europe's energy supply.

Image: Emsland nuclear power plant, one of Germany's three remaining operating reactors to continue generating electricity until 15 April 2023 (courtesy of RWE)