ESSEN (dpa-AFX) - Power plant operator RWE has stressed that the decision on a possible reserve operation of lignite-fired power plants after the coal phase-out in 2030 lies with politicians. "Whether and to what extent such a reserve might become necessary is not for the company to decide. This decision is solely up to policymakers," a spokesman for the energy company said Thursday. "Should a reserve become necessary, the required coal must also be provided for it." RWE expects to use about 50 million tons of lignite for this purpose, he said. According to him, this amount is already included in the coal reserve of 280 million tons agreed between the state, federal government and RWE at the beginning of October.

The North Rhine-Westphalian Economics Ministry said the federal government would decide by 2026 at the latest whether the reserve operation would be needed in 2030. "An expansion of the mining area beyond the stipulations of the cornerstone agreement is out of the question," a spokeswoman stressed. In principle, the reopening of reserve power plants would only be considered if there was a tense situation in the energy industry and security of supply could not be guaranteed by other measures. The state government's goal, however, is to make the energy supply system more crisis-proof by 2030.

The comments were prompted by a report in the weekly newspaper "Die Zeit" about this lignite reserve. According to the newspaper, Green Party member of the state parliament Antje Grothus appealed to her party to keep the reserve as small as possible. "The Federal Ministry of Economics will decide on this reserve by 2026 at the latest. So there is definitely political leeway to make it smaller or even to do without it completely," she told the newspaper./tob/DP/nas