Is it Time to Safeguard Gas Power Plants? Minister Reiche Stands Firm Against Allegations of Vested Interests
Economy Minister Reiche justifies herself against accusations of lobbying influence
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German Economics Minister Katherina Reiche, with her past in the energy industry, now advocates for new gas power plants. As she confronts accusations of favoritism, she highlights technical feasibilities, albeit with limitations.
Minister Katherina Reiche of the CDU insists on the government's plan to construct additional gas power plants. "As we phase out coal due to eco-friendly reasons and the CO2 price, we need dependable energy capacity," Reiche asserted at the Family Business Day in Berlin. "We desperately require a stable gas supply over a longer duration."
Reiche waved off lobbying allegations. "When I hear whispers and read claims that the gas lobby is orchestrating behind the scenes, I wish to tell the critics that we must allow for CO2 capture and utilization (CCS and CCU) in order to make use of CO2," she added. "If we need dependable energy capacity and aim to safeguard the environment, we need to confront the resulting CO2 by capturing, transporting, and storing it."
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According to the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), theorists presume that 85% of CO2 from the atmosphere could be permanently confined. Whether this number will ever be attained remains uncertain. The number of storage sites is small, and the UBA underlines the enormous energy required for CO2 capture, transport, and storage.
In earlier pilot projects across Europe, millions of tons of CO2 have been stored. For instance, the Danish Greensand aims to inject eight million tons annually from 2030. However, Germany emitted approximately 600 million tons in 2023, and Germany's CO2 emissions have considerably reduced in recent years.
CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) entails storing captured carbon dioxide in deep geological formations. CCU (Carbon Capture and Utilization) means employing the greenhouse gas in other processes.
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Criticism of Reiche emerged primarily from the Greens and the Left. Schleswig-Holstein's Energy Minister Tobias Goldschmidt of the Greens referred to a "power play by the gas lobby" in the "Handelsblatt." Left MP Lorenz Gösta Beutin criticized the federal government for sacrificing climate objectives for fossil interests. "It's telling that these plans stem from a former energy lobbyist like Reiche," he stated.
Before returning to politics, Reiche worked for the Association of Municipal Enterprises, which represents numerous municipal utilities, and later rose to lead Westenergie. The coalition agreement between the Union and SPD sets a target of constructing up to 20 gigawatts of new gas power plants.
Sources: ntv.de, as/dpa
- Minister Katherina Reiche
- Gas
- CO2 Emissions
- Energy Supply
- Germany's Energy Policy
- Minister Katherina Reiche, with her background in the energy industry, continues to advocate for the construction of new gas power plants amidst accusations of favoritism, citing the technical feasibility and necessity of a stable gas supply for energy security.
- The economic outlook suggests a severe income drop for businesses in the energy sector, as evidenced by RWE's income decline, Furthermore, Germany's industry, politics, and business community are discussing the potential of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) to address CO2 emissions and safeguard the environment.
- In the midst of this debate, Minister Reiche insists that the implementation of CO2 capture, transport, and storage technology is crucial for the future of energy policy in Germany, countering allegations of vested interests from critics in the Green Party and the Left.
