- The Government of the Federation will back the advancement of the Cuxhaven port with an allotted sum of 200 million.
The German government gets the green light to invest 200 million euros in broadening the Cuxhaven harbor. The European Commission endorsed this initiative, stating that it contributes to making Germany more eco-friendly. The project aims to enhance the handling of large freight, particularly wind farm equipment. A few new docks are on the agenda, with operations expected to commence by 2028.
The overall estimated cost for adding three docks is approximately 300 million euros. Both the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony pledge 100 million euros each. The remaining 100 million euros will be sourced from the private sector, discussions are ongoing as per NPorts, the Lower Saxony state-owned port infrastructure firm.
Economic Minister: "Generates new job opportunities"
Lower Saxony's Economic Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) applauded this significant move and deemed it a powerful message to the wind energy sector and the German port economy. This expansion propels businesses to establish themselves in Lower Saxony and fosters the expansion of offshore wind power in the North Sea. Lies highlighted, "Together, we're securing a self-sufficient, sustainable, and affordable energy source, while creating numerous well-paying jobs for the region."
To maintain a level playing field and prevent domestic companies from gaining an unfair benefit with financial support, strict regulations govern subsidies within the EU. The European Commission closely monitors these guidelines and must approve numerous projects prior to securing funding.
Following the expansion, Cuxhaven will have an extra 38 hectares of warehousing and storage space for onshore and offshore wind turbines. NPorts considers this infrastructure project crucial for the energy transition. Construction is set to commence in mid-February 2025.
The investment in broadening the Cuxhaven harbor includes sourcing 100 million euros from the private sector, ensuring a balanced approach in funding the shipping operations. With the expansion, businesses in the wind energy sector will benefit from more efficient shipping of wind farm equipment, improving the overall handling of large freight.
