Energy - Concerns about lignite compensation for operator Leag
Following the approval of billions in compensation for the Rhenish operator RWE due to the coal phase-out, there is growing concern among Brandenburg politicians about disadvantages for the power plant operator Leag in Lusatia. "We are concerned that the EU Commission is treating the RWE and Leag proceedings separately - perhaps even with different results," said CDU parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann on Tuesday. The state government must exert pressure, he demanded. "Brandenburg must not be treated worse than RWE in North Rhine-Westphalia."
The federal government is allowed to pay RWE 2.6 billion euros in aid for the early decommissioning of power plants for the coal phase-out by 2030. This does not violate EU regulations, the EU Commission announced on Monday. The EU has not yet decided on compensation of 1.75 billion euros for Leag, which intends to phase out coal-fired power generation by 2038.
Economics Minister calls for quick decision for Leag
Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach(SPD) said in Potsdam that he welcomed the decision in favor of the energy company RWE. However, it was now urgently necessary for the proceedings for Leag to be brought to a speedy conclusion. "There must be clarity in the matter. Leag also needs certainty at this point."
SPD parliamentary group sees responsibility with the Green Minister for Economic Affairs
SPD parliamentary group leader Daniel Keller sharply attacked Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens). "You get the impression that because a quick exit has been decided for RWE at state level (...) that there is a certain favoritism here - I take a critical view of that," said Keller. "We therefore now expect clarification from Federal Minister Habeck without delay."
Greens want an earlier coal phase-out in Lusatia
The co-governing Greens defended the EU Commission. Due to Leag's later phase-out, this is not comparable to RWE, emphasized Green Party parliamentary group leader Benjamin Raschke. Due to expensive CO2 trading, the operation of the power plants would no longer be economically viable in 2038, he said. "This rightly raises the question for the EU Commission as to what compensation should be paid if there are no more profits." Raschke therefore believes that an earlier coal phase-out should also be negotiated in Lusatia.
Major concerns also among the opposition
Sebastian Walter, leader of the Left Party parliamentary group, sees the impasse surrounding Leag as proof that East German interests are not being seen in political Berlin. Should the funding be withdrawn, it would be a "complete disaster for the East", he said. Everything must be done to prevent a structural break.
Free Voter MP Matthias Stefke expects "the state government to go full steam ahead towards Brussels". The "top fireman", Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD), must also be sent into action.
AfD parliamentary group leader Hans-Christoph Berndt emphasized that a possible loss of funding would be bad. "But without a completely misguided policy, we would not have got into this bad situation," he emphasized.
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- In response to the substantial compensation given to RWE in North Rhine-Westphalia due to the EU-approved coal phase-out, there are growing concerns among politicians in Brandenburg about potential disparities for Leag, the Lusatia power plant operator.
- CDU leader Jan Redmann expressed his concerns, stating, "We fear that the EU Commission is treating the RWE and Leag cases separately, potentially leading to different outcomes."
- Brandenburg, according to Redmann, should not receive less favorable treatment than RWE in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the state government should leverage its influence to address this issue.
- Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD) called for a swift resolution of Leag's proceedings, saying, "Leag requires certainty as well and clarity needs to be established in this matter."
- The SPD parliamentary group criticized Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) for perceived favoritism and urged a swift response from Habeck regarding the Leag case.
- The Greens emphasized that Leag's later coal phase-out dates make the situation non-comparable to RWE and argued for a potential earlier phase-out in Lusatia, inviting discussion on compensation from the EU Commission.
- Major concerns regarding Leag's situation extend beyond political party lines, with Free Voter MP Matthias Stefke calling for the Brandenburg government to aggressively pursue a resolution with Brussels and pressing Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) to get involved.
Source: www.stern.de
