Germany will shut down its last reactor in 2022. And thus it will be the first industrial power to give up nuclear energy. This was announced by the Ministry of the Environment, which defined the decision as "irreversible".
Most of Germany's reactors will be decommissioned this year, with the last three remaining in operation for up to 11 more years. Responsible minister Norbert Roettgen explained that the eight reactors out of the 17 that are not connected to the electricity production grid will no longer be reactivated. The decision is the result of reflections that the German government began after the Fukushima disaster, which caused mass protests in the country, against the use of atomic energy. At present, nuclear energy is responsible for 22% of the country's electricity needs.
