The German government and industry leaders remained divided yesterday over the future of nuclear power, despite pledges at an energy summit on Monday to reduce the country's dependence on imported fossil fuels, reports Hugh Williamson in Berlin.

At the summit, convened by Angela Merkel, chancellor, senior energy sector executives said they could not envisage Germany's long-term energy needs being met without nuclear power, according to officials at the meeting. Nuclear power currently provides about a third of the country's energy needs, but is due to be phased out by about 2020.