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Released April 14, 2016 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--German power company Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW) (Karlsruhe, Germany) has lost a landmark court case in which it sought 261 million euro ($296 million) in compensation from the German government. EnBW was forced by the government to shut down two nuclear reactors in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan in 2011.
A regional court in Bonn ruled that EnBW should have acted sooner and used "all legal means available" at the time to fight the government's decision to call for a nuclear moratorium in the wake of the Fukushima incident. A court statement said: "A legal challenge by the plaintiff would have had a postponing effect, which could have prevented a shut-down of both power plants from March 16, 2011, and averted the subsequent damage."
At the time, Industrial Info reported on Germany's unexpected order to shutdown eight older reactors, including EnBW's Neckarwestheim 1 and Phillipsburg 1 units, located in the Germany state of Baden-Würrtemberg. For additional information, see March 28, 2011, article - German Nuclear Plants Begin Shutdowns.
Last January, EnBW became the fourth, and last, utility to launch a lawsuit against the government for what it called the "unlawful" closure in 2011 of its two reactors. For additional information, see January 8, 2015, article - EnBW Sues Germany For Nuclear Shut Down.
RWE AG (FWB:RWE) (Essen, Germany) and E.ON SE (FWB:EOAN) (Düsseldorf) were also affected by 2011's temporary closure, which was then made permanent, costing the companies billions of euro in earnings and associated shut down costs. While RWE has been successful in the courts regarding its own legal action, E.ON's claims lawsuit is still pending.
In related news, EnBW has announced that Unit 2 at its Philippsburg nuclear power plant has been disconnected from the grid for its annual inspection. Testing and maintenance work will be completed, fuel elements replaced and a number of technical projects implemented during the inspection. An additional 800 staff have been brought in to perform some 4,200 individual activities. Unit 2 is a pressurised water reactor with an electrical output of 1,468 megawatts (MW). Commissioned in 1984, it will be taken offline in 2019 to comply with Germany's decision to exit the nuclear power sector.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
A regional court in Bonn ruled that EnBW should have acted sooner and used "all legal means available" at the time to fight the government's decision to call for a nuclear moratorium in the wake of the Fukushima incident. A court statement said: "A legal challenge by the plaintiff would have had a postponing effect, which could have prevented a shut-down of both power plants from March 16, 2011, and averted the subsequent damage."
At the time, Industrial Info reported on Germany's unexpected order to shutdown eight older reactors, including EnBW's Neckarwestheim 1 and Phillipsburg 1 units, located in the Germany state of Baden-Würrtemberg. For additional information, see March 28, 2011, article - German Nuclear Plants Begin Shutdowns.
Last January, EnBW became the fourth, and last, utility to launch a lawsuit against the government for what it called the "unlawful" closure in 2011 of its two reactors. For additional information, see January 8, 2015, article - EnBW Sues Germany For Nuclear Shut Down.
RWE AG (FWB:RWE) (Essen, Germany) and E.ON SE (FWB:EOAN) (Düsseldorf) were also affected by 2011's temporary closure, which was then made permanent, costing the companies billions of euro in earnings and associated shut down costs. While RWE has been successful in the courts regarding its own legal action, E.ON's claims lawsuit is still pending.
In related news, EnBW has announced that Unit 2 at its Philippsburg nuclear power plant has been disconnected from the grid for its annual inspection. Testing and maintenance work will be completed, fuel elements replaced and a number of technical projects implemented during the inspection. An additional 800 staff have been brought in to perform some 4,200 individual activities. Unit 2 is a pressurised water reactor with an electrical output of 1,468 megawatts (MW). Commissioned in 1984, it will be taken offline in 2019 to comply with Germany's decision to exit the nuclear power sector.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
