Nuclear phaseout to hand Kremlin a win in Germany

[phantom power]

(Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev goes to Germany to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel with a stronger hand than ever to win a long-held aim: closer access to consumers in the biggest market for Russian gas.

The host nation is Russia's third-largest trading partner and the biggest buyer of Russian gas, but the relationship has intensified since Germany announced the phaseout of nuclear power by 2022, increasing its need for alternatives.

Last week Gazprom, Russia's gas export monopoly and the world's largest gas company, announced exclusive talks with Germany's RWE for a joint venture in power generation, with an implied promise of fatter margins on its German sales.

On Tuesday, Medvedev will meet Merkel in Hannover to discuss stronger energy ties, with hardware in hand to meet a potential increase in German demand for Russian gas.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/18/us-russia-germany-gas-idUSTRE76H1BW20110718?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&rpc=401

[wtmusic]

1. Fossil fuels so rock.

:headbang:

[Palmer Eldritch]

2. Is this a sad attempt to bemoan the fate of the Nuclear Industry?

[wtmusic]

3. It's a joyous celebration of the warming of the planet.

Climb on board!

[Palmer Eldritch]

4. A radioactive planet is oh so much better?

[phantom power]

6. Which would kill more people -- the radiation or the warming?

[wtmusic]

7. So far warming is kicking radiation's ass

and short of nuclear armageddon, the trend is likely to continue.

[phantom power]

5. Mostly an observation on shifting of economic leverage.