Germany’s Merkel praises deal to extend operations for country’s 17 nuclear power plants

Germany’s Merkel praises extending nuclear energy

BERLIN — Germany’s chancellor says a deal to grant the country’s nuclear power plants an extra 12 years on average of production is a “revolution of the energy supply” for her country.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday the decision puts Germany on track to securing the “most efficient and environmental-friendly energy supply worldwide.”

She told journalists in Berlin that nuclear-powered and coal-fired plants were bridging technologies that will keep energy cheap while the country develops and expands renewable energies.

Merkel, her ministers and leaders from her center-right coalition forged the compromise Sunday in a marathon negotiating session.

A previous center-left government had decided in 2000 to shut down all of Germany’s 17 nuclear plants by 2021.