Will he do it or not? This question about the candidacy for chancellor will accompany Robert Habeck on his summer trip. In Lower Saxony, however, the focus is first on industrial policy
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) has promised relief for energy-intensive industrial sectors such as the glass industry. During a visit to the glassworks Ardagh Glas GmbH in Obernkirchen in Lower Saxony, Habeck made it clear that electricity prices had fallen significantly following sharp price increases following the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. “But we have to continue to go down.”
This will be achieved through the expansion of renewable energies, which will lower the price of electricity, and a “market design” that will enable energy-intensive companies to obtain this electricity cheaply. However, there is a need for action in the area of exemption from network charges – these are what customers pay for the electricity networks. The exemption is expiring as an industrial policy support measure. The EU Commission will probably no longer approve this. The federal government is working on other options.
Electricity instead of gas
A new melting furnace has been in operation at the Ardagh plant in Obernkirchen since last November, which is mainly powered by electricity instead of the traditional natural gas. According to the company, this significantly reduces CO2 emissions.
Managing director Jens Schaefer said that operating the melting furnace with electricity is more expensive than with gas. Electricity prices need to be reduced. Otherwise, more and more cheap glass from abroad that is not decarbonized will come to Germany.
Ardagh Glass Packaging produces over ten million glass containers every day in eight German glassworks for use in the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
Source: Stern
