German plant life extension law passed

29 November 2010

Amendments to Germany's Atomic Energy Act that will extend the lives of the country's 17 nuclear reactors have formally been passed by the German parliament's upper house, the Bundesrat. The amendments will see the country's 17 reactors allowed to operate for an average of 12 years longer, while introducing a new tax on nuclear fuel to reduce the extra profits energy companies might make from the lifetime extension. The changes had already been approved by the lower house, the Bundestag, and the amended act can now be passed to German president Christian Wulff for signature.