German Minister Dismisses Nuclear Power Lobby

Germany should boost renewables rather than nuclear power to increase its energy security, Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Tuesday, seeking to snuff out a debate rekindled by a Russian gas blockade.

Gabriel’s Social Democrats struck a deal in 2001 with utility firms to close Germany’s 19 nuclear power plants by 2020, but leading members of their conservative coalition partners are urging a rethink.

Gabriel, environment minister since November, told a news conference that existing reserves of uranium could run out in 30 to 40 years.

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