Söder demands construction of mini-nuclear power plants - Markus Söder pushes nuclear revival to reshape Germany’s energy future
CSU leader Markus Söder is pushing for a significant shift in Germany's energy policy. He advocates for the construction of new nuclear power plants and opposes state subsidies for energy production, including those for gas-fired power plants and renewables. Söder believes this approach will boost competitiveness and safeguard jobs.
Söder has long been a critic of Germany's phase-out of nuclear energy, arguing for affordable power solutions. He proposes building smaller, advanced reactors similar to those already in use in Canada. These 'mini-reactors', he believes, would not require the same level of state subsidies as traditional nuclear plants.
Söder also suggests tapping into natural gas reserves in northern Germany and reassessing the viability of domestic rare earth mining. He calls for a reversal of the policy that treats domestic gas drilling as taboo while importing fracked gas from the U.S. Meanwhile, RWE is replacing the decommissioned Gundremmingen nuclear power plant with Germany's largest battery storage facility and a solar park, expected to commence operations in early 2028.
Söder warns that Germany's focus on electric vehicles is putting thousands of jobs at risk in the internal combustion engine industry. He argues that Germany must prioritize competitiveness and stop undermining its own industries, echoing Chancellor Friedrich Merz's sentiments.
Söder's energy policy proposals aim to balance affordability, sustainability, and competitiveness. While he faces skepticism regarding the claimed advantages and economic viability of small modular reactors, Söder remains steadfast in his call for a shift in Germany's energy policy.
