Economy Minister Reiche acknowledges approval of French nuclear energy program
German Minister of Economics, Katherina Reiche (CDU), has announced her agreement to acknowledge France's reliance on nuclear power as a valid energy source during a conference of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris this week. This move, she hopes, will foster partnerships for finding joint solutions in future technology investments.
Reiche emphasized that this acceptance is not about funding existing nuclear facilities, but rather an acknowledgment of France and Germany's differing approaches to a carbon-free energy supply. Reiche recently advocated for a "technology-open" approach in Brussels, showing her willingness to support research on advanced Small Modular Reactors (SMR) from the EU budget. However, her stance appears to have been challenged by the Ministry of the Environment.
Germany's previous government rejected France's demand for nuclear power to be classified as sustainable. The coalition, known as Ampel, sought to avoid granting nuclear power the same treatment as renewable energies in terms of funding allocation. Yet, this position was eventually overshadowed during negotiations on the reform of the European electricity market.
Reiche, however, expressed less flexibility when discussing the free trade agreement with the South American Mercosur countries, which France has rejected. "We can't even open the file that has been negotiated for 20 years," she said, emphasizing the need to reach a resolution this year despite ongoing disputes related to the French agriculture sector. Reiche also highlighted the urgency for resolving trade conflicts with the USA for mutually beneficial negotiations solutions. According to her, thriving free trade means growth, prosperity, and plentiful opportunities.
Source: ntv.de, AFP
A closer look at Reiche's policies reveals her focus on ensuring energy security, primarily through the construction of new gas-fired power plants to maintain grid stability during variable renewable energy output periods. Additionally, she supports the expansion of gas-fired power plants, reaching up to 20 GW by 2030, and the integration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies[1][2].
While Reiche has ruled out a return to conventional nuclear power, her policies suggest a balanced approach to energy security and sustainability, including renewables, gas, and carbon management technologies for future technology investments [4]. Furthermore, her focus on innovation and decarbonizing heating sectors implies potential investments in novel technologies that align with these goals [5]."
- The agreement by Minister Reiche to acknowledge France's nuclear power as a valid energy source could have implications for the community policy regarding emissions and energy sustainability, as it signals a willingness to diversify energy sources.
- The focus of Germany's Minister of Economics, Katherina Reiche, on energy security, gas-fired power plants, and carbon management technologies for future technology investments, also includes a potential interest in finance, business, and politics related to the development and implementation of these technologies, given her position and the broader context of energy policies.
