Germany to postpone nuclear tax decision: minister

German Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen uses a cellphone during a summer reception in Berlin, July 5, 2010.

DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - German Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen said on Wednesday that he believes the government will postpone a decision on a contentious nuclear power tax until the end of September.

"That is also my understanding," said Roettgen, also charged with the energy portfolio, in response to a Reuters report that the government would delay the decision until the end of September when it presented its energy policy for coming decades.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's government had initially planned to present the decision at the start of the month together with other details of Germany's austerity drive.

Postponing the tax decision would give Berlin more time to resolve the stand-off with utility companies E.ON, RWE, EnBW and Vattenfall Europe, infuriated by the proposed new tax. (Reporting by Tom Kaeckenhoff, Writing by Sarah Marsh)