The ailing gas importer Uniper has received around 15 billion euros in government aid so far – and recently reported additional needs. But you obviously don’t want to put on the savings stockings. The group apparently spent 350,000 euros on sponsoring a trade fair event.
The crisis-ridden gas importer Uniper is threatened with a PR disaster: Although the group got into trouble as a result of the gas supply stop from Russia and is receiving extensive state aid, it hosted a luxurious gala dinner in a Milan villa as a sponsor last Sunday. This is reported by “Business Insider” and refers to those responsible for the “Gastech” trade fair, during which the event took place. Accordingly, the dinner cost the equivalent of around 175,000 euros.
A tweet from the fair’s account, which has since been deleted, said that the “prestigious dinner” at Villa Necchi Campiglio was sponsored by Uniper. The luxurious villa in Milan city center dates back to the 1930s and is currently owned by an environmental foundation. The property includes a heated swimming pool and a tennis court. A singer, a pianist, a cellist and a trumpet player provided the right atmosphere.
According to the report, Uniper Managing Director Klaus-Dieter Maubach also took part in the gala – as well as in the conference itself, at which, according to “Gastech”, he also spoke about the changing global energy landscape. Maulbach is quoted in a tweet that has since been deleted, with the words: “Chruchill said: Never miss a good crisis. We definitely have a good crisis, so let’s not miss it!”
Uniper is also apparently a major sponsor for the trade fair itself. On the “Gastech” website, the company is listed as a “platinum sponsor”, which, according to “Business Insider”, means a cost sharing of around 175,000 euros. The fair ends today. According to the report, Uniper has so far left an inquiry about the participation unanswered.
The federal government has put together a rescue package of 15 billion euros for Uniper to save the group from bankruptcy. But it is already clear that the money will not be enough. Uniper is also to receive a lion’s share of the total of 34 billion euros from the agreed gas levy. Gas customers will therefore have to pay 2.4 cents more per kilowatt hour from October.
Maubach recently did not rule out that the gas levy would have to be increased if gas prices on the market continued to rise. The gas importer recently reported a need for further financial aid because he had to buy expensive replacements on the market due to Russia’s supply cuts. In mid-August, the group reported a loss of over 12 billion euros for the first half of the year.
