According to the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the experts believe that an extension would allow "the best outcomes for climate protection and the economy."

Among the scenarios for prolonging the life of the plants, "the most beneficial results" would be gained by keeping the plants in use for between 12 and 20 years, the weekly Focus and the daily Stuttgarter Zeitung said.

The centre-right government of Angela Merkel had called for an assessment ahead of a broad energy policy overhaul due by the end of September. The report was received by Merkel on Friday.

The phasing out of 17 German nuclear power plants by 2020 had been planned by Merkel's predecessor Gerhard Schroeder.

Merkel's government, however, pushed back the programme and had not fixed a new timetable for the phase-out.

In a statement on Friday Merkel said renewable energies should supply half of all energy needs by 2050 and that nuclear and coal power would continue until supplies could be met entirely by clean energy.

A poll published on Friday found that 56 percent of Germans are against keeping nuclear power plants beyond 2021.

The Greens have called for an anti-nuclear demonstration to take place on Wednesday in Berlin.

The Chancellor has previously argued that Germany is not ready to do without nuclear power and that it might be necessary to allow the plants to run for longer.

The debate on the plants has become fraught, with a large section of public opinion opposed to them and resentment from the industry over a planned tax on nuclear energy production of 2.3 billion euros (2.9 million dollars) per year.

Merkel has also suggested that the industry should stump up to help develop renewabale energy.

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