LINGEN (dpa-AFX) - The Emsland nuclear power plant in Lingen is back on the grid after a regrouping of fuel elements. Lower Saxony's energy ministry said Monday that the work was the last overhaul and short shutdown at a German nuclear power plant. The plant will now go into stretch operation with its output reduced by around 25 percent, as decided by the German parliament. At the end of April 15, the nuclear power plant will finally be taken off the grid. Preparations for dismantling were already underway.

"The use of nuclear energy is finally coming to an end after decades of social dispute," said Energy Minister Christian Meyer (Greens). He stressed that from his point of view there would have been no need for continued operation in Emsland, "especially since we have no electricity shortage in northern Germany and the negative scenarios of the German government's stress test have not materialized."

The Lingen site is now to be expanded with RWE into a center for the production of green hydrogen from renewable energies./cwe/DP/mis