Germany will close its last nuclear power plants in 2022, thereby becoming the first major industrialized power to give up on nuclear energy, the country's environment minister has announced.

The decision for the nuclear power phase-out, which was prompted by the crisis at Japan's Fukushima plant, was officially announced Monday by Germany's Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen.

In his words, the agreement was reached after a meeting of leaders of the ruling coalition headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany has a total of 17 nuclear reactors on its territory, eight of which are currently off the electricity grid and will not go back into operation.

According to the phase-out schedule, six further reactors will be shut down by end-2021, with the three most modern to cease operation by the end of 2022.

Germany's plans to give up atomic energy entirely mean that the country will have to step up energy production from other sources, including alternative energy sources, and build new power lines.

Debates on nuclear energy in Germany intensified after the earthquake and tsunami in March that severely damaged the Fukushima facility.

The radiation leak was followed by a wave of protests against the use of nuclear energy around the globe.

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