Nuclear Power's Contentious Debate: Saxony's Fight Against the Czech Republic's Proposed Plant
Contempt from Saxony over Czech plans for nuclear energy facility - Workers' safety from ionizing radiation risks to be addressed through a proposed directive by the Commission.
In the center of a heated disagreement, the proposed Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant near the border between Saxony and the Czech Republic has become a hot topic in the local state parliament. Green, Left, and SPD representatives have expressed strong opposition to the project, while the AfD has surfaced as a supporter of nuclear power, advocating for similar plants in Saxony. The CDU, however, has urged against alarmism, stating that the plant in Tušimice won't begin supplying electricity until 16 kilometers from the border in 2038.
The Czech Republic originally announced these plans in May, focusing on an SMR nuclear power plant, with the acronym standing for Small Modular Reactor – nuclear reactors with reduced electrical output that can operate individually or in combination with several units. The proposed site in Tušimice, which currently hosts a brown coal power plant slated to be shut down around 2030, will see construction of the nuclear power plant begin in 2034.
Environment Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch (CDU) has stated that the Czech Republic has the right to decide on its own energy supply and that lectures should be avoided. "We are not blowing the whistle now." Saxony and the Czech Republic maintain a strong partnership, and von Breitenbuch emphasizes the importance of maintaining trust.
However, SPD politician Simone Lang expresses concern and worry among the people in the Ore Mountains. The nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic should not turn Saxony into a testing ground, Lang believes, citing disasters like Fukushima and Chernobyl as cautionary tales.
Former Environment and Energy Minister Wolfram Günther of the Greens believes the dangers of a nuclear power plant cannot be fully controlled. The risk is never zero. Günther's colleague Thomas Löser urged the Saxon government to advocate for Saxon interests during the environmental compatibility review for the nuclear power plant.
As the debate unfolds in the state parliament, the AfD proposal for reactivating last-shutdown nuclear power plants in Germany is also on the agenda for later discussion.
- Nuclear Power Plant
- Saxony
- Czech Republic
- State Parliament
- SMR
- Nuclear Power
- AfD
- CDU
- SPD
Insights:
- The SMR nuclear plant project in Tušimice is progressing from planning to environmental assessment stages as of mid-2025.
- The Czech state energy company ČEZ leads the project with plans for three 470 MW SMRs, aiming to replace coal power capacity and maintain local employment.
- Public environmental review is underway with an open scoping phase inviting stakeholders' input.
- The project is novel and close to Germany, which has raised local sensitivity and potential controversy, though concrete oppositional details remain limited in current reports.
- The state parliament of Saxony is currently debating the proposed Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant near the border with the Czech Republic, with representatives from the Green, Left, and SPD parties expressing strong opposition.
- As the debate progresses, concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants, such as Fukushima and Chernobyl, have been raised, particularly by SPD politician Simone Lang, who worries about the potential risk to the people in the Ore Mountains.
- The AfD party, on the other hand, has expressed support for nuclear power, advocating for similar plants in Saxony and even proposing the reactivation of last-shutdown nuclear power plants in Germany for future discussion.
