The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in an interview late on Wednesday that it was "rational" for Germany to return to nuclear power even though the country's phase out was completed in 2023.
"I think it's a logical. It's a rational position," Rafael Grossi told German news agency DPA, noting that Germany is the only country in the world to have completely phased out nuclear energy.
Speaking at the COP29 UN Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, Grossi added: "You might wonder: Why does the rest of the world see things differently... I respect German politics, and you are going through a very complex phase, so we will see," reports DW.
He said he was "not surprised" there was renewed debate about returning to nuclear power, as it emits almost no greenhouse gases.
"This is why countries that have nuclear want more nuclear," he said. "Many countries that did not have nuclear want nuclear."
Grossi stressed, however, that Germany would first need a rigorous assessment of if and how its plants could be brought back online.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
