Early nuclear withdrawal costly for Germany

Brief

January 16, 2003

KTG of Germany estimates that it will cost the country 5.8 billion euros if it pulls out of nuclear power today (shutdown of Mülheim-Kärlich, exploratory work at Gorleben, on-site interim storage facilities). Shutting down the country's reactors after 32 years of service rather than 60, as in the U.S., and replacing them with wind power and natural gas plants will cost the German economy some 250 billion euros.