Energy - Berlin buys district heating network from Vattenfall
The state of Berlin is taking over the capital's district heating network from Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall. Both sides agreed on a purchase by the Berlin Senate, announced the Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), and Vattenfall on Tuesday. Regarding the purchase price, Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) said, "We will ... settle at 1.6 billion euros". The transaction will be completed in spring 2024.
Wegner spoke of a historic day for Berlin. Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD) said, "We are bringing the heat back home, we are bringing the heat back into Berlin state hands". However, the purchase is still subject to the approval of the Berlin House of Representatives. The deal also includes an option to acquire Vattenfall's shares in gas network operator Gasag.
In May 2022, Vattenfall announced that it was reviewing its district heating business for 1.4 million apartments in Berlin. The Berlin Senate then expressed its interest in buying the company and took part in the bidding process, which Vattenfall began in early December 2022. At the end of October this year, the Senate and Vattenfall entered into exclusive negotiations.
Energy infrastructure in public hands
For years, the Berlin state government has been working on keeping all energy and supply infrastructure in public hands. The electricity and water networks already belong to the state, and now the district heating network is being added. The gas network, on the other hand, will remain private for the foreseeable future.
Vattenfall wants to move away from fossil fuels and has put its district heating business in Berlin to the test. However, a final decision on a sale was still pending. Nevertheless, the company recently announced investments of 200 million euros in the network.
Read also:
- Why there is still no EU funding for green Saar steel
- 3 billion Saar Fund is unconstitutional
- Abrupt end to e-car subsidies
- The chemical industry has little confidence
- The CDU's Kai Wegner, as the Governing Mayor of Berlin, was involved in the agreement to purchase the district heating network from Vattenfall, along with the Berlin Senate.
- The purchase of Vattenfall's district heating network by the Berlin Senate will involve a settlement of 1.6 billion euros, as stated by Finance Senator Stefan Evers.
- The deal between the Berlin Senate and Vattenfall includes an option for the Berlin Senate to acquire Vattenfall's shares in gas network operator Gasag.
- Franziska Giffey, a Senator from the SPD party, welcomed the acquisition, stating "We are bringing the heat back home, we are bringing the heat back into Berlin state hands".
- Municipalities in Berlin will benefit from the transition of the district heating network to public hands, as has already been the case with the electricity and water networks.
- Despite Vattenfall's intentions to move away from fossil fuels and invest in its district heating business in Berlin, they eventually agreed to sell to the Berlin Senate in an effort to streamline their operations.
Source: www.stern.de
