Bloomberg quoted Standard Chartered Plc said Germany, Europe biggest power user will boost coal fired generation in the year second half as it replaces electricity lost by shutting nuclear reactors.

According to the BDEW utility industry group in Berlin Chancellor Ms Angela Merkel in March ordered the halting of Germany seven oldest reactors following a meltdown that month at Japan Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant caused by an earthquake and tsunami. That’s out of 17 reactors that accounted for 23% of national power generation last year.

Ms Judy Zhu an analyst at Standard Chartered in Shanghai “In the second half of 2011, it seems that an increase in coal burn will be the only choice for Germany in order to offset the loss of nuclear power. It is unlikely that Germany will substantially increase power imports from its neighbors, as we understand the interconnectors are not able to handle much additional power.”

According to data from BP Plc the German Cabinet approved plans this week to close all nuclear-power plants nationwide by 2022. The country was Europe biggest coal consumer after Russia last year. Germany burned 76.5 million tons of oil equivalent or 16% of all coal burned in Europe and Eurasia.

(Sourced from Bloomberg)