By Michael Sauerbier
Thousands of jobs in Brandenburg’s steel mills are in danger! Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (67, SPD) warns: Without cheap industrial electricity, heavy industry in the country has no future. It will soon be carbon neutral.
Eisenhüttenstadt, Hennigsdorf, Brandenburg/Havel: Steel is boiled in three towns in Brandenburg – with huge energy requirements. But electricity prices in Germany are higher than in any other country. “The manufacturers are saying in no uncertain terms that they are not competitive at this price,” warns Minister Steinbach.
Steel, cement and paper companies are demanding cheap industrial electricity – for 4 cents per kilowatt hour. “We absolutely need this bridge current,” says Steinbach, “it has to come as quickly as possible. 7 cents are realistic.” But the federal government is still reluctant to do so because it has to use taxpayers’ money to promote cheap electricity.
Brandenburg’s Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (66, SPD) warns of the end of heavy industry in Brandenburg Photo: picture alliance/dpa
The future of steel belongs to green electricity. “Brandenburg’s electric steelworks are already using 60 percent renewable energy,” said Steel Association boss Kerstin Rippel (51) in Potsdam, “100 percent green electricity will come in 2032 when the power grids are expanded for it.”
Eisenhüttenstadt still cooks steel with dirty coke. Steinbach: “By 2029 it will be replaced by hydrogen. Then the necessary pipeline will be ready.” But: “Initially, the hydrogen will still be produced from gas,” admits the minister, “and only gradually replaced by hydrogen from green electricity.”