Germany's Economy Minister Katherina Reiche is calling for a rethink on nuclear power as energy prices continue to soar. This comes as Germany launches an investment summit to revive its economy, Europe's largest. Reiche's comments suggest a potential shift in Germany's energy policy, which has been focused on phasing out nuclear power since 2011, following the Fukushima disaster .

Germany completed its nuclear phase-out in April 2023, shutting down its last three nuclear reactors. However, with energy prices high, some are questioning this decision. In fact, a study by PwC found that if Germany had kept its nuclear fleet operational, 94% of its power generation in 2024 could have been emission-free, and electricity prices would have been 23% lower 

The German government is exploring alternatives to reduce energy costs, including introducing a subsidized industrial electricity price of 5 euro cents per kilowatt hour until 2028. This aims to relieve the burden on energy-intensive industries and boost competitiveness 

The debate on nuclear energy's role in Germany's energy mix is likely to continue, especially with the country's commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2045. 

German economy minister urges nuclear power rethink as energy prices soar