Germany halts seven oldest N-plants in safety review

Germany is halting its seven oldest nuclear reactors as part of a nationwide safety review to run through June after the explosions at reactors in Japan, Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

The federal government and premiers of the German states where nuclear-power stations are located agreed that facilities “that began operation before the end of 1980 are being stopped for the duration of the moratorium,” Merkel said after a meeting in Berlin today.

“This involves seven reactors,” some of which are already offline, she said at a news conference. The temporary shutdown may affect power prices in Europe’s largest economy, Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said.

Germany, which relies on nuclear power for 23 per cent of its energy needs, is the first European country to take such measures after explosions at Japan’s Fukushima plant sparked safety concerns.