Karl-Erik Stromsta

london

G ermany's ruling coalition agreed to extend the life of the country's 17 nuclear plants amid howls of protest from its world-beating renewables industry.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition has scrapped the decision taken in 2001 to phase out nuclear energy within 20 years. The last plant will now remain open until 2036.Claiming the country needs nuclear power as a "bridging technology", Merkel will allow operators to keep their oldest plants open an extra eight years, while those built since 1980 will get an additional 14 years.

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