The insecure gas supply and the cost development for energy burden private households and industry. The economy in the north-east also joins the call for savings.
Schwerin (dpa/mv) – Rapidly rising energy prices and impending bottlenecks in the gas supply are also making the alarm bells ring louder in the economy in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In an appeal published on Thursday, the country’s three chambers of industry and commerce are calling for joint efforts to save on natural gas in order to prepare for the winter. The federal government’s plans to reward gas savings in industry are correct and must be implemented quickly.
Pragmatic solutions are expected from the state government and administrations. “What we cannot afford are lengthy approval procedures when switching from gas to oil or coal or when expanding EEG systems on hall roofs or as car park canopies. Pragmatism and foresight are the order of the day,” emphasized Matthias Belke, Executive President of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in MV.
The supply of gas is still secured. Nevertheless, companies across all sectors are very concerned. The burdens are becoming increasingly noticeable and companies must find ways to continue to work economically in the future. Contracts with low gas prices would often expire. “We can already see that many companies will simply not be able to avoid passing on the rising costs to their customers,” explained Belke. What is needed is “solidarity with the aim of a fair balance between gas suppliers and gas customers”. In addition, all possibilities for own energy supply through solar roofs, geothermal energy or wind power in commercial areas would have to be exhausted.
The head of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, had already called on private households and industry to use gas sparingly on Wednesday. Every cubic meter saved will help to increase security of supply in view of the uncertain prospects in the coming months. So far it is unclear whether Russia will again deliver gas to Germany on a larger scale after maintenance work on the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline at the end of July in order to fill the storage facilities.
