UPDATE 2-Responsible to keep nuclear for now-German minister

* None of Germany's 17 plants protected against plane crash

* Govt moratorium shutting seven plants still in effect

* Industry group warns against quick nuclear exit

(Adds industry group comment)

By Sam Cage

BERLIN, May 17 (Reuters) - The responsible thing for Germany to do is keep nuclear power for now and not hastily exit the sector, Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen said on Tuesday, citing a report by a panel of experts.

Roettgen said the panel advising the government on nuclear safety had concluded that a serious plane crash is one threat which none of Germany's 17 nuclear plants is protected against, though no single conclusion could be drawn regarding safety levels and the results still needed to be evaluated.

"According to the report, it is responsible not to exit immediately," Roettgen said, adding that the three-month moratorium on operation of Germany's seven oldest plants was not over.

"There is no argument why we should go head over heels today, to exit now, on technical and safety grounds."

Chancellor Angela Merkel reversed a decision made by her government to extend the life of Germany's nuclear plants after the massive earthquake and tsunami of March 11 led to disaster at Japan's Fukushima reactors.

Merkel imposed the three-month moratorium, ordered safety checks on all reactors and launched two commissions to make recommendations on the industry.

The safety report will be evaluated by the German government, along with a separate report by an ethics commission, before it makes a decision on nuclear power.

HIGHER COSTS

The industry group German Atomic Forum cautioned against abandoning nuclear power without careful consideration.

"A quick and rash exit from German nuclear power would raise costs for the whole economy, make us miss climate goals, raise our reliance on fossil fuels and make our power supply less secure, meaning more power imports and problems with network stability," said president Ralf Gueldner.

"It would also spark intense debate in the European Union," he added.

Nuclear power has long been unpopular in Germany and Merkel's decision last year to extend the life of nuclear plants was a major factor in her party's loss of power after 60 years in a prosperous conservative state in March. [ID:nLDE72T07N]

Germany's nuclear plants are run by E.ON (EONGn.DE), RWE (RWEG.DE), EnBW (EBKG.DE) and Vattenfall [VATN.UL].

(Additional reporting by Brian Rohan; editing by Jason Neely)