Growing concern over the implications of a potential Russian gas shutdown is fueling debate in Germany over whether the country should shut down its last three nuclear power plants later this year as previously planned, AP reported.. NEWS.

The main opposition bloc " Similar calls come from the smallest party in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government, the pro-business Free Democrats..

" He called on Economics Minister Robert Habek, who is in charge of energy, to stop using gas to generate electricity..

Calls for increased use of nuclear power are uncomfortable for the other two parties in the ruling coalition - Scholz's center-left Social Democrats and, especially, Habek's environmental " Opposition to nuclear power is a cornerstone of the Greens' identity; the government of the Social Democrats and the Greens initiated Germany's nuclear phase-out two decades ago.

The government, made up of Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union and the Free Democrats, in 2011, shortly after the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, determined the current form of exit from nuclear power. In accordance with it, the three still operating reactors should be turned off at the end of December..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Habek has long argued that keeping these reactors running will be legally and technically difficult and will do little to address the problems caused by gas shortages, arguing that natural gas is not so much a factor in electricity generation as a fuel for industrial processes and heating..

"

In the first quarter of this year, nuclear power plants accounted for 6% of Germany's electricity generation, while gas accounted for 13%. Lindner said that "

In recent days, some Greens have been somewhat open about allowing one or more reactors to continue operating for a short period of time on existing fuel rods if the country faces a power emergency, but not for a longer period..

Others are not impressed with this idea.. This is "

Critics say it's still not enough. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz called on the government to immediately order new fuel rods for the remaining reactors.. Senior opposition legislator Alexander Dobrindt called for the reopening of three already shut down reactors and told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that "

And Scholz's position? Government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said last week that he was awaiting the results of a "

The government has already given the green light to utilities to start up 10 idle coal-fired power plants and six oil-fired plants, and is also planning to clear the way for the reopening of idle lignite-fired power plants..

Another 11 coal-fired power plants that were due to shut down in November will be allowed to continue operating..

Russia cuts natural gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany to 20% of pipeline capacity amid tensions over war in Ukraine. She cites technical problems, which, according to Germany, are just a pretext for a political game.. Russia has recently been responsible for about a third of Germany's gas supplies, and there are fears that it could completely turn off the tap..