Reiche on gas-fired power plants: concerns in the East unfounded

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche refutes concerns that eastern Germany could be systematically disadvantaged in the construction of new gas-fired power plants. "The fear is unfounded," said the CDU politician during a visit to the eastern German coal-mining region of Lusatia. "We need power plants everywhere in Germany." Lusatia will also be part of this.

The background to this is the so-called southern bonus: The federal government is planning to give preference to southern Germany when building new gas-fired power plants. This had triggered criticism in Saxony. Reiche said that the EU Commission was "very, very close" to getting more power plant capacity approved. "So we will have several waves of tenders," she added.

Reiche: Lusatia has excellent prerequisites

Lusatia has excellent prerequisites, emphasized Reiche. The hydrogen core network is not far away, there are large customers and, with the energy company Leag, a company that is "undergoing a difficult but courageous transformation". She herself had been part of the coal commission and had ensured that funds were available for the East. She feels committed to this, said Reiche.

The coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD provides for the construction of up to 20 gigawatts of gas-fired power plant capacity by 2030. The power plants are intended to step in when electricity demand cannot be covered by renewable energies - for example during so-called dark doldrums when there is no sunshine and no wind. State subsidies are planned. In earlier statements, Reiche had declared southern Germany to be a priority.