Green energy, not nuclear the way to go: German official

(planet-ark, 6 Oct 2015) Green energy is cheap in the long run and clean compared to "dirty" coal and costly nuclear power, a senior German energy official said on the sidelines of a Cape Town conference, at a time when South Africa plans to expand atomic power generation.

President Jacob Zuma's government is developing an energy mix that will boost power generation in Africa's most advanced economy which has been hit by electricity shortages and reduce its reliance on mostly coal generated energy.

"If you want to have expensive electricity you buy nuclear generators, if you want dirty electricity you burn coal," Rainer Baake, state secretary for energy in the economy ministry, told Reuters, when asked what advice he would have for South Africa which is working on increasing electricity production.

"If you want clean energy in the long run that will be cheaper, you transfer to a renewable system, but the decision has to be made by your own government," he said on Monday on the sidelines of a renewable energy conference in Cape Town.

"Every country has to make it own decisions. You don't want to be determined by politicians from other countries, make an assessment and do what is best for you."

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planet-ark, 5 Oct 2015: Green energy, not nuclear the way to go: German official