Energy giants warn against nuclear tax

GERMANY - Germany's largest energy companies have lashed out at the government about controversial plans to introduce a nuclear tax that will cost billions of euros each year.

Both E.ON AG and RWE AG have warned the government that the potential fuel-rod tax, which will cost energy companies 2.3 billion euros US $2.95 billion a year until 2014, will result in reduced investment in renewable energy and smart grid projects.

Nuclear plants account for more than a quarter of Germany's electricity generation, but all of the country's plants are scheduled for closure by 2021 unless an agreement to extend their lifespans can be made.

Speaking at the release of the company's half-year financial results, E.ON CEO Johannes Teyssen expressed concern at the government's lack of a clear energy policy and its plans to introduce the nuclear tax.

"There has long been a lack of clarity about the direction of Germany's energy-policy," he said. "This needs to change. As the federal government stated, Germany needs a non-ideological, technology-neutral, and market-based energy strategy that includes an environmentally and economically sensible decision on the future of nuclear energy in this country. Only then will Germany make a real start towards its energy future.

"Ten months later what we are seeing is that there still no clarity about the clear direction of German energy policy and thus no clarity about the future of nuclear power in Germany either." Teyssen argued that nuclear energy is vital to Germany's economic and success and energy security and would continue to hold this position "if our highly secure and reliable nuclear power plants were allowed to operate as long as is usually the case in many other countries. In this regard, we are prepared to share the benefit of a lifetime extension. But, any benefit sharing must be balanced. I explicitly warn of charges of such a magnitude that the operation of nuclear power plants could become uneconomic. Germany's proposed nuclear tax would be such a negative and unacceptable charge."

Last October, it looked likely that Germany's government was going to extend the life of older nuclear plants to avoid a looming energy crisis.

E.ON's warnings have been echoed by RWE CEO Juergen Grossmann, who said: "In a generally uncertain environment in the energy industry, RWE is confronted not only with the German government's plans to introduce a nuclear fuel tax, but also with continuing uncertainty about the announced energy concept. For this reason, the Group now has to review its medium-term goals up to and including 2013. Such a tax would substantially diminish our earnings power — and thus our financial scope for investment in renewables, low-carbon power stations and smart grids."

Grossmann called on the government to clarify its nuclear position.

Related News

The Nalcor Energy Lower Churchill Project Soldiers Pond site

Financial update from N.L energy corp. reflects pandemic's impact

ST. JOHNS - Newfoundland and Labrador's Crown energy corporation reported a pandemic-related profit loss from the first quarter of 2020 on Tuesday, along with further complications to the beleaguered Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project.

Nalcor Energy recorded a profit loss of $171 million in the first quarter of 2020, down from a $92 million profit in the same period last year, due in part to falling oil prices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company released its financial statements for 2019 and the first quarter of 2020 on Tuesday, and officials discussed the numbers in a livestreamed presentation that detailed the impact of the…

READ MORE
seattle-city-light-initiative-helps-customers-reduce-electricity-bills

Seattle City Light's Initiative Helps Over 93,000 Customers Reduce Electricity Bills

READ MORE

carbon capture

Carbon capture: How can we remove CO2 from the atmosphere?

READ MORE

lake erie connector

The CIB and private sector partners to invest $1.7 billion in Lake Erie Connector

READ MORE

net zero power grid

Can Canada actually produce enough clean electricity to power a net-zero grid by 2050?

READ MORE