During the visit of Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, to ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe in Duisburg, in light of the current discussions surrounding the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and energy costs, Andreas Goss, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe, stressed that, if energy prices in Germany continue to increase, the company will not be competitive on a European and international scale for much longer. "For decades we have been converting the process gases that occur unavoidably in steel production into electricity in our power plants in Duisburg, thereby also protecting the environment. This sensible use of resources must not be burdened with additional costs," Goss added, in connection with the discussion about additional burdens for in-house electricity production due to the EEG.
"Our steel plants operate with high energy efficiency and under severe price pressure. We cannot afford further burdens - whether from the EEG or the upcoming reform of the emissions trading system," said Dr. Herbert Eichelkraut, chief operating officer of ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe. He sharply criticized the current moves by the EU Commission regarding the planned changes to the EEG: "This only fuels new uncertainties and makes planning for the steel industry almost impossible. This jeopardizes Germany's competitiveness as a whole."
Germany's renewable energy reform includes reduction of subsidies for renewable energy power systems and a stronger control of the expansion of green energy.