Due to the impending natural gas bottlenecks, the last coal-fired power plant in Austria in Mellach, Styria, south of Graz, which was shut down in 2020, is to be converted so that electricity and heat can be generated there in an emergency. Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens), Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Economics Minister Martin Kocher (both VP) decided on Sunday in a “small crisis cabinet”. Questions such as those about the costs remained unanswered for the time being. However, the federal budget will “entirely” pay for it, according to Gewessler’s ministry.
Criticism of this came primarily from the opposition. SPÖ energy spokesman Alois Schroll described the step as “an act of desperation”. According to Neos, the government is doing “pure show politics” and is unprepared. In contrast to Austria, Germany has managed to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, said General Secretary Douglas Hoyos. However, the opposition did not make any concrete suggestions for alternatives.
Environmental NGO willing to compromise
Johannes Wahlmüller, spokesman for the environmental organization Global 2000, pointed out the harmfulness of coal as a source of energy – it is “the most climate-damaging energy” and leads to “harmful mercury and fine dust emissions”. According to Wahlmüller, emergency use is accepted, but “it should be clear that only acute emergencies are allowed”.
Source: Nachrichten
