The European Commission announced that the expert consultation process on the classification of energy investments in the nuclear and natural gas fields in the member states has been started.
The Commission has proposed classifying new nuclear power and natural gas plants as “green investments”.
Following the completion of the expert consultation process, the Commission will this month send the relevant legislation to the Council of the European Union (EU) and the European Parliament (EP) for approval.
The Commission is the EU’s executive body.
Energy investments included in the EU’s “green” classification provide easier access to finance.
In the Commission’s draft, nuclear power plant investments that do not harm the environment and can dispose of their waste safely are classified as “green and sustainable” economic activity.
The nuclear power plants in question must be licensed before 2045 to be considered a “green investment”.
On the other hand, if natural gas investments, which will be “green investments”, are to replace coal, they must emit less than 270 grams of carbon emissions per kilowatt-hour and the construction permit must be obtained before the end of 2030.
The Commission argues that its proposal is key to the EU’s plan for the transition to clean energy. “It is necessary to recognize that the fossil gas and nuclear energy sectors can contribute to the decarbonisation of the EU economy,” it says.
reaction from Germany
German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, on the other hand, said that if the proposal, which he found “wrong”, were implemented, nuclear energy could lead to environmental disasters and large amounts of nuclear waste. German Minister of Economy and Climate Protection Robert Habeck also stated that the proposal dilutes the definition of sustainability.
Besides Germany, Austria and Luxembourg also favor not including nuclear power in the “green” classification.
If most EU member states support the proposal, the plan will go into effect in 2023.
What does France want?
Some EU members, including France, wanted nuclear energy to be included in the “green investment” classification framework, stating that it is an effective, safe and competitive resource in tackling climate change.
Some EU countries also wanted natural gas to be temporarily accepted as sustainable in EU investment classification rules.
France produces 70 percent of its electricity in nuclear power plants, but this rate is aimed to be halved within 15 years.
France has committed to reducing its dependence on nuclear energy by shutting down 12 nuclear reactors by 2035.