Minister Madsen: Need a clear signal for Northvolt
Schleswig-Holstein's Minister for Economic Affairs Claus Ruhe Madsen expects clarity from the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs regarding Northvolt's planned battery factory. "We need a clear signal to the investor that we stand by the commitments we have already made," said the CDU politician on Monday following consultations between the economics and energy ministers of the federal and state governments in Berlin.
Madsen went on to emphasize that the decisions regarding Northvolt had already been made in the federal state. Now the federal government must also pave the way so that no doubts arise. However, this also applies to settlement projects in general: Here, investors must be given a signal that Germany will also implement what it promises.
The Swedish investor Northvolt wants to manufacture battery cells for electric cars in a factory in Heide from 2026. The 4.5 billion euro investment is expected to create 3,000 jobs. The company has already invested around 100 million euros of its own funds in the construction project in Heide, according to sources close to the project.
Madsen was pleased that the federal and state governments had decided to stick to all projects. However, he would have liked the economics and energy ministers to discuss solutions and how to get there rather than what is still open.
The Federal Constitutional Court had declared a reallocation of 60 billion euros in the 2021 budget to be unconstitutional. The federal government is therefore not allowed to use funds intended to combat the coronavirus crisis for climate protection. This could have a major impact on the Climate and Transformation Fund.
The fund is to be used, for example, to finance programs for more climate protection, for the establishment of future technologies and the development towards a climate-neutral economy.
In the context of Northvolt's battery factory project, Minister Madsen stresses the need for a clear economic policy signal from the federal government to reassure investors. This consistency is essential, not just for Northvolt, but for all potential investors in Germany, as they need to trust that the country will fulfill its commitments.
Source: www.dpa.com
