The gas tax will take effect on October 1st. But it is under scrutiny because Federal Economics Minister Habeck has “constitutional financial concerns”. Uniper also needs more help.
The controversial gas withdrawal in support of large gas importers is being examined in view of a possible nationalization of the troubled utility Uniper. According to information from the German news agency, Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Verdi) has “doubts about the financial constitution”. Habeck is also said to have indicated that funding requirements for gas suppliers are significantly higher than when the first bailout package for Uniper was negotiated.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the volatile situation needs “the power and assurance of the state, as well as all the financial strength of the state” it needs, according to information from the dpa on Tuesday. However, the final examination and responsibility of the financial constitutional law rests with the Federal Ministry of Finance. ARD’s capital office had previously reported on this.
The number of companies eligible to apply must be reduced
A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Economy said on request that “obviously we also need to keep an eye on how the emerging need for stabilization of systemically important companies is affecting the gas market, what questions it raises and what answers are needed”. She pointed out that adjustments to the planned gas surcharge are currently underway and that the group of companies eligible to apply has been reduced so as not to include free riders. In addition, legal aid issues would be clarified.
The gas surcharge will be introduced on 1 October
The gas surcharge is intended to support gas importers who get into trouble due to the high purchase prices of Russian gas. The surcharge for all gas users is currently set at around 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour. According to the current state, the first advance payments should be due at the end of October. The tax is expected to be introduced on 1 October this year. Habeck tries to narrow down the circle of eligible companies so that only companies that really need them benefit from it.
Uniper is in trouble because Russia is practically no longer pumping gas into Germany, but Uniper has to fulfill its long-term contracts and buy the missing gas at a high price in the market. The situation of Germany’s largest gas importer has worsened following the renewed closure of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline.
Interested parties are considering a direct capital increase in Uniper
According to the company, a stronger commitment from the federal government is under discussion. Among other things, the parties involved have examined “a direct capital increase that would lead to a significant majority by the federal government in Uniper,” Uniper recently announced. In July, the federal government, the group and its Finnish parent company Fortum agreed on a € 1 billion bailout package, which also includes federal government involvement.
dpa
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