By Michael Sauerbier
It sounds like a lottery win for Lusatia. The Chinese battery manufacturer SVOLT wants to create 1000 jobs in Lauchhammer from 2025. Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (60, SPD) apparently doesn’t mind that the Far East dictatorship wants to invade its neighboring country Taiwan.
“We have had good experiences working with China in recent years,” said Woidke to the BZ. “I am very happy that a new investor was found who will ensure the future here.”
That’s what the head of government sounded like on November 17, 2021. He welcomed “the takeover of all shares in the PCK refinery by the Russian group Rosneft”. Woidke at the time: “Good news for Schwedt. This secures the location and jobs in the long term.”
Three months later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Thousands of jobs are now at risk. China is also threatening its neighbor Taiwan with an invasion and is holding off maneuvers. In the event of an attack, US and EU sanctions will follow. The jobs in Lauchhammer would then be threatened.
“In our fast-moving times, nothing can be ruled out”, Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (66, SPD) confirmed the danger, “but we could not have intervened in the sale of the plant to SVOLT.”
Now Lauchhammer has to hope that China will remain peaceful – and that the company will keep its promise…
SVOLT postponed the start of its battery factory in Saarland from 2023 to 2027 on Friday. Because of “fire protection, traffic planning, noise protection and the necessary coordination”.