The European Commission’s proposal to include nuclear and natural gas among clean energy sources is a good signal and one of the keys to energy self-sufficiency, said Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in reaction to a report from the Financial Times.
According to Czech Minister of the Environment Anna Hubáčková, the possibility of using nuclear and gas for a transitional period as a substitute for coal will enable the Czech Republic to gradually switch to clean sources.
“The inclusion of nuclear energy among clean energy sources is one of the keys to the Czech Republic’s energy self-sufficiency. Our households need it, and our industry needs it,” said Fiala, stressing that this is one of the top priorities of the new government.
“The proposed document is a good signal. We will do everything we can to bring this agenda to a successful conclusion for the Czech Republic,” the prime minister added.
“The Czech Republic has long been striving to be able to use nuclear and gas (for a transitional period) as a substitute for coal. This decision will allow us to gradually switch to clean sources,” said Hubáčková.
Other Czech politicians also welcomed the commission’s proposal.
Former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said that he, together with other countries, had long fought for such a result in the European Union. According to him, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, promised at the last European Council meeting that nuclear and natural gas would be included in the list, despite the resistance of Germany and Austria. He, therefore, welcomed the decision.
Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová also noted that the Czech Republic had long sought such a decision.
“The current government shares the position with the previous government, so if the European Commission decides to do so, it can be seen as our success,” she said.
“Developing both nuclear energy and renewable sources is a way for Czechia to reduce emissions and mitigate our harmful impact on global warming,” Pekarová Adamová added.
According to the chairman of the opposition Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, Tomio Okamura, his movement also promotes recognizing nuclear and natural gas as renewable sources.
“This indecision of the European Union leadership shows their inconceivability and unprofessionalism,” he said.
Okamura noted that the warning of the SPD and President Miloš Zeman “about the crazy plan of the European Union called Green Deal” was confirmed, adding that many experts consider the Green Deal to be Europe’s energy suicide.
