Berlin (energate) - Employers and employees are taking a joint stand against the controversially discussed option of a gas supply freeze. "The negative effects on the economy and employment would currently be greater in Germany than in Russia," write the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) and the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in a joint statement. They warn of production losses and further deindustrialisation, which would result in lasting job losses. In order to support Ukraine and keep up the pressure on Russia, Germany needs a stable economy and labour market. "We will still have to face many challenges in the coming months. We cannot do this from a position of weakness," emphasise the BDA and DBG.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has already rejected an immediate gas supply freeze several times. Berlin is currently working flat out to build alternative import possibilities with the construction of several floating LNG terminals, where the first LNG tankers are to land as early as next winter (
energate reported). According to a letter from the Ministry of Finance that recently became public, almost 2.5 billion euros have been earmarked for this. The money is not only to be used for construction, but also to help secure the operation of the facilities. In Brunsbüttel in Schleswig-Holstein, the German government had already invested in the responsible project company via the KFW Bank. For its part, the state of Lower Saxony has
promised 200 million euros for the two LNG projects in Stade and Wilhelmshaven. In addition, the
port cities of Rostock in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg have brought themselves into the discussion as further LNG locations. /mt
