Germany needs a decision on an effective bridge electricity price quickly. This is what the associations and unions of the energy-intensive industries and the DGB are demanding. This week, these organizations formed an alliance in favor of bridge electricity prices. The members of the alliance represent a total of more than 1.1 million employees in over eight thousand companies. According to a recent short study, up to 2.4 million jobs and a good 240 billion euros in added value depend on companies in the energy-intensive sectors. They secure high income for the federal, state and local governments with annual tax payments and social security contributions of around 90 billion euros.
The members of the alliance are in favor of a quick solution to the current debate about a bridge electricity price. It is “five to twelve” for the energy-intensive industries. Relocations, site closures and the loss of jobs have long been threatened.
Together they are committed to Germany as an industrial location and the transformation to climate-neutral production. Electricity is becoming increasingly important. Until this is available in sufficient quantities from renewable energies, a competitive, temporary bridge electricity price is urgently needed. After months of bickering, a decision must now be made for the future of industry in Germany. Above all, the Chancellor must take a clear position.
In joint letters to political leaders in the federal and state governments, Allianz announced that it would hold talks with prime ministers, members of the cabinet and members of parliament in the federal and state governments in the coming days and weeks.
STATEMENTS FROM THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ALLIANZ PRO BRIDGE POWER PRICE
Franziska Erdle, General Manager WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle e.V. The non-ferrous metals industry is in an extremely difficult situation due to the high electricity prices. Some companies have already had to cut back their production or stop it altogether. Politicians urgently need to move from discussion to action and introduce an industry or bridge electricity price. Otherwise there is a risk of the irrevocable loss of transformation-relevant industry in Germany and thus an increase in dependencies in the supply of basic materials, especially from China.PRESS CONTACT: TERESA SCHAD, 030 726207 111
Yasmin Fahimi, Chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation The federal government must now set the course so that Germany becomes a successful and climate-neutral industrial country. High-quality industrial jobs and strong industrial added value will also have to exist in the future. For this, the industry finally needs reliability and competitiveness in terms of electricity prices. However, not without committing to location and tariff loyalty. Despite all the efforts of the federal government, we must not stop halfway. The federal government must therefore follow up on its announcements with action and implement the bridge electricity price quickly. We simply cannot afford to wait.PRESS CONTACT: NORA NEYE, 030 – 24060-212
dr Matthias Frederichs, General Manager of the Federal Association of Building Materials – Stone and Earth e.V. (bbs) Without competitive electricity prices for industrial production, we not only endanger the prosperity of the country, but also our efforts in the transformation. Anyone who wants to implement the energy, transport and construction transition and maintain regional value chains must present a clearly defined framework for planning and investment security, especially in times of crisis. Such an environment is absolutely dependent on a bridge electricity price and the continuation of peak balancing.PRESS CONTACT: LUKE VOUTTA, 030 72619 9923
dr Frank Heinricht, President of the German Glass Industry Association The glass industry wants to produce climate-neutrally by 2045. To this end, work is currently being carried out on two technologies for which electricity from renewable energies must be available: the electrification of the glass furnaces and the use of hydrogen. Until enough green electricity is available at competitive conditions, we need a bridging electricity price, because electricity consumption will initially increase as a result of decarbonization measures, since electricity is the basis both for the electrification of sub-processes in glass production and for the use of hydrogen through electrolysis.PRESS CONTACT: DOROTHEE RICHARDT, 0211 902278 25
Jörg Hofmann, First Chairman of IG MetallThe currently high energy costs and the fact that Germany has one of the highest industrial electricity prices in Europe require fair solutions. Otherwise, steel production, the aluminum industry and other energy-intensive sectors are in danger of disappearing from Germany sooner rather than later. The consequences of this for the entire German industry would be fatal. From the point of view of IG Metall, a bridging electricity price must include the following aspects: A restriction to energy-intensive industry that is in international competition, a time limit combined with a concrete transformation perspective for the purchase of cheaper renewable energy in order to prevent free-rider effects and – particularly important to us as a trade union – Investments by the funded companies in the transformation, location guarantees and obligation to adhere to tariffs.PRESS CONTACT: ALINA SOPHIA HEISIG, 069-6693 2646
Kerstin Maria Rippel, General Manager of the Steel Industry Association: The transformation to climate neutrality requires massive amounts of green electricity. And it has to be affordable. Our electricity costs are two to three times higher than those of our European and international competitors. This hits the companies in the steel industry hard, which are currently pushing ahead with decarbonization with giant strides. That’s why we need a bridge electricity price – not permanently, but for the transition. To the point where renewable energy in an intelligent electricity market design ensures competitive prices.PRESS CONTACT: MARVIN BENDER, 030 2325 54650
Winfried Schaur, President Die Papierindustrie e.V. It is difficult for the paper industry in Germany to hold its own in international price competition. In addition to other stable framework conditions, a competitive industrial electricity price must finally be introduced as a bridging solution and the retention of peak balancing guaranteed for 2024. Especially in the energy-intensive paper production, an affordable and secure energy supply as well as its long-term planning for investment decisions play a special role.PRESS CONTACT: ANDREAS GEIGER, 030 92100609 30
Markus Steilemann, President of the Chemical Industry Association – VCIOur industry is at a crossroads. The house is on fire and we urgently need the bridge electricity price as extinguishing water. So that the existing good substance is preserved and we can tackle the ecological transformation with full force. We want to present a completely renovated house in the future and not complain about any ruins.PRESS CONTACT: JÜRGEN UDWARI, 069 2556 1716
Michael Vassiliadis, Chairman of the Mining, Chemical and Energy Union The energy crisis is putting Germany under pressure to act: We must not simply give up a highly developed industry with hundreds of thousands of well-paid jobs – we must continue to develop it intelligently. We cannot afford an exodus of energy-intensive companies, either socially, economically or in terms of climate policy. They are too decisive for the transformation of the industry as a whole. It is now a matter of strengthening our strengths and bringing the framework conditions for energy-intensive industry back on par with those of other economic nations. First and foremost, this includes a fair electricity price. The entire industrial value chain benefits from high energy consumption – and ultimately the entire country.PRESS CONTACT: LARS RUZIC, 0511 7631 1135