German official says Germany 'should end dreams' of phasing out coal by 2030

Facing high energy prices, Germany’s finance minister Christian Lindner said the country should rethink its plans to shut down all coal-fired power plants by 2030.

Lindner told the west-German daily newspaper Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger that until the county’s electricity is affordable and reliable, Germany “should end dreams” of phasing out coal-fired generation in 2030.

Germany’s finance minister is responsible for the country’s tax and revenue policies.

Lindner added that the 2030 target date would not have any impact on the climate. European rules, he said, are set up that any emissions reductions in Germany allow additional emissions in another country, such as Poland.

The finance minister said the country needs more renewable energy, but it also needs to increase natural gas production. Lindner said the three nuclear power plants Germany shut down in April could have been allowed to run for some time.

Germany’s finance ministry officials have also had reservations about the phasing out of coal-fired power plants.

A spokesperson for the ministry said the German government is considering extending the deadline for shutting down some older coal-fired power plants, Oilprice.com reported on Oct. 23.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany was cut off from Russian gas. Earlier in October, Oilprice.com reported that the German government was bringing back online several mothballed coal-fired power plants to ensure it had electricity resources for winter. Germany had intended to shut them down again in spring 2024.

The ministry spokesperson, who was quoted in the German business daily Handelsblatt, said the German government is considering keeping them on standby beyond the spring.

Germany is a world leader in renewable energy, but following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country has struggled with high energy costs, which have had a detrimental effect on its economy.