Economics Minister hopes for solidarity: Habeck criticizes “moon prices”

by time news

Status: 05.10.2022 07:09 a.m

The world market prices for gas are too high, complains Federal Minister of Economics Habeck. On the other hand, it could help if the EU organized a synchronized purchasing behavior. Finance Minister Lindner wants to continue operating the nuclear power plants until 2024.

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck has accused some supplying states of natural gas of excessive prices. “Some countries, including friendly ones, sometimes achieve moon prices. Of course, that brings with it problems that we have to talk about,” Habeck told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. He is counting on the EU Commission to talk about this with the friendly states.

The Green politician mentioned the United States in this context. “The United States turned to us when oil prices skyrocketed, and national oil reserves were tapped in Europe as a result. I think such solidarity would also be good for curbing gas prices,” Habeck said, referring to the government in Washington.

According to the minister, the EU should “bundle its market power and orchestrate smart and synchronized purchasing behavior by the EU states so that individual EU countries do not outbid each other and drive up world market prices”. The European market power is “enormous” and only has to be used.

Lindner: Continue to operate nuclear power plants until 2024

Meanwhile, in the energy crisis, Finance Minister Christian Lindner is continuing to advocate running all three remaining German nuclear power plants until 2024. In addition, it must be checked how many of the nuclear power plants that have already been switched off could safely be put back into operation, said the head of the FDP to the dpa news agency. “Before we use public money, we have to exhaust all possibilities to make the taxpayers bear the burden,” he said.

This includes using all available energy sources. “That’s exactly why we in Germany cannot do without the nuclear power plants that are still in operation until 2024,” said Lindner, adding: “For me, it’s not enough if only two power plants remain connected to the grid until spring 2023.” Many European partners also see it that way. “Anyone who speaks of solidarity in Europe should not only refer to money, but also to energy production,” said Lindner.

The nuclear power plants Isar 2 in Bavaria, Neckarwestheim in Baden-Württemberg and Emsland in Lower Saxony are still connected to the grid. Actually, the operation should end at the end of the year. However, Federal Minister of Economics Habeck assumes that the Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim nuclear power plants will continue to be connected to the grid as a reserve in the first quarter of 2023.

Habeck accuses friendly countries of “moon prices” for gas deliveries

Alfred Schmidt, ARD Berlin, October 5, 2022 7:14 a.m

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