BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German Economy Minister Robert Habeck is pushing for a quick decision within the federal government on a government-subsidized cheaper industrial electricity price. The Green politician said Tuesday at an industry conference in Berlin that the hanging game was bad for companies: "I'm not happy with it either." Perhaps the deliberations on the 2024 federal budget, which are now entering the home stretch, would provide some clarity, he said. "But I can't promise that either." Habeck again put the chances of there being an industrial electricity price at 50-50.

The second chairman of the IG Metall trade union, Jürgen Kerner, criticized with regard to high electricity prices in international comparison that the federal government has been conducting an open debate about a "bridge electricity price" for months without any result in sight. A decision was overdue, he said. "We already perceive that production is being relocated and discontinued in energy-intensive industry," Kerner said.

Industry demands clarity

Commenting on Habeck's recently presented industrial strategy, Siegfried Russwurm, president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), said, "Paper is patient, companies need concrete action." For example, he said, the government needs to say what exactly a competitive energy system of the future looks like. Russwurm also advocated a reduction in the electricity tax. In a further step, he said, it would then be necessary to take a very close look at what acute assistance would still be needed in limited periods of time to ensure that value-added chains were not broken off.

Months ago, Habeck already proposed a state-subsidized, discounted industrial "bridge electricity price" that would cost billions. However, such a price is controversial within the German government. The FDP rejects the plans, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has so far expressed skepticism./hoe/DP/mis