Is Lusatia missing out? Explosive ministerial visit to Leag

Expectations of politicians: clear up the investment backlog

"Politicians are now called upon to clear up the investment backlog for future power plants with clear regulation and fair tendering conditions," demanded Roesch. He estimates that it takes between four and six years to build a gas-fired power plant. According to the company in Cottbus in February, the total investment volume involved is around three billion euros.

"Southern bonus" criticized

Reiche had announced that she wanted to quickly launch state funding for the construction of new gas-fired power plants - she had also said that the focus should be on southern Germany. "We are planning a southern bonus, which will be built with two thirds of the total tendered capacity in the technical south," the CDU politician had said, causing irritation in Lusatia.

At the Schwarze Pumpe industrial site, the minister must initially expect to see disappointed faces when she is greeted by trainees and the works council in the afternoon. Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) also wants to take part in the tour of the lignite-fired power plant in Spremberg. It is to remain on the grid until the final phase-out of coal-fired power generation at the end of 2038.

Delay in new power plants

The failed traffic light government actually wanted to introduce state funding for the construction of new gas-fired power plants. Reiche announced that the first tendering process would begin at the end of the year. The state subsidy is likely to cost billions. The EU Commission must give its approval. Reiche was cautious about possible legal requirements for the subsequent conversion of gas-fired power plants to hydrogen. The coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD talks about the construction of up to 20 gigawatts (GW) of gas-fired power plant capacity by 2030.

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