BERLIN: German leaders reached an agreement to grant the country's nuclear power plants extra years of production time and to levy new fees on the utility companies' expected additional profits, a government official said on Sunday.
Following months of public wrangling on the controversial issue, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen, Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle, Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and other key leaders of the governing center-right coalition reached the agreement in an almost 10-hour-long marathon session at the chancellery, a government official said. He declined to be named in line with government policy.
The country's 17 nuclear power plants will remain online for more years, but how long exactly will be defined by each plant's age, German news agency dapd reported.
The chancellor was to brief media on details of the new agreement on Monday.
Merkel said earlier this week an extra 10 to 15 years of production time beyond 2021 was possible.
Following months of public wrangling on the controversial issue, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen, Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle, Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and other key leaders of the governing center-right coalition reached the agreement in an almost 10-hour-long marathon session at the chancellery, a government official said. He declined to be named in line with government policy.
The country's 17 nuclear power plants will remain online for more years, but how long exactly will be defined by each plant's age, German news agency dapd reported.
The chancellor was to brief media on details of the new agreement on Monday.
Merkel said earlier this week an extra 10 to 15 years of production time beyond 2021 was possible.
A previous center-left government decided in 2000 to shut down all nuclear plants by 2021 _ a decision she wanted to reverse so that Germany can have more leeway as it switches to renewable energies.
The coalition leaders also agreed on a new levy to tax the utility companies' additional profits. As announced earlier, the companies will have to pay an annual fuel tax aimed at raising euro2.3 billion ($3 billion) starting next year, but they will also have to contribute to a special fund to boost renewable energies, dapd reported. It was not immediately clear how much money the latter is meant to raise.
Hundreds of people protested outside the chancellery in Berlin against the planned extension of the nuclear power plants' lifetime. Some carried banners saying, ``Nuclear power: Only the risk is secured.''
The main opposition parties, the Social Democrats and the Greens, staunchly oppose the idea of keeping the plants longer online, citing the safety risk and the need to switch to renewable energies.
Opposition leader Sigmar Gabriel told public broadcaster ARD Sunday evening the agreement marked ``a black day for Germany's energy policy'' as the coalition government caved in to the pressure of the utility companies.
The project was even controversial within Merkel's government. Economy Minister Bruederle called for an extension of up to 20 years, but Environment Minister Roettgen was skeptical on longer production times.
Merkel's coalition, however, still needs to get parliamentary approval for the new agreement.
The government says the measure only has to be approved by the lower house, where it holds a majority. The opposition maintains the upper house representing the federal states _ where Merkel recently lost her majority _ has to approve the measure as well. If no agreement is reached, leading opposition politicians have hinted they would bring the case to the country's constitutional court.
The coalition leaders also agreed on a new levy to tax the utility companies' additional profits. As announced earlier, the companies will have to pay an annual fuel tax aimed at raising euro2.3 billion ($3 billion) starting next year, but they will also have to contribute to a special fund to boost renewable energies, dapd reported. It was not immediately clear how much money the latter is meant to raise.
Hundreds of people protested outside the chancellery in Berlin against the planned extension of the nuclear power plants' lifetime. Some carried banners saying, ``Nuclear power: Only the risk is secured.''
The main opposition parties, the Social Democrats and the Greens, staunchly oppose the idea of keeping the plants longer online, citing the safety risk and the need to switch to renewable energies.
Opposition leader Sigmar Gabriel told public broadcaster ARD Sunday evening the agreement marked ``a black day for Germany's energy policy'' as the coalition government caved in to the pressure of the utility companies.
The project was even controversial within Merkel's government. Economy Minister Bruederle called for an extension of up to 20 years, but Environment Minister Roettgen was skeptical on longer production times.
Merkel's coalition, however, still needs to get parliamentary approval for the new agreement.
The government says the measure only has to be approved by the lower house, where it holds a majority. The opposition maintains the upper house representing the federal states _ where Merkel recently lost her majority _ has to approve the measure as well. If no agreement is reached, leading opposition politicians have hinted they would bring the case to the country's constitutional court.
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