German Finance Minister Christian Lindner newspaper ‘Bild’.
“If we want to remain an industrialized country and avoid a loss of prosperity in society, we need a fair energy policy. Affordability, security of supply and respect for the climate are decisive,” he declared.
For Lindner, that means, first of all, accelerating renewable energy; second, to import liquefied gas, synthetic fuels and hydrogen of all colors, “although they will be produced with nuclear energy” and, third, “to use the national oil and gas fields”, which includes hydraulic fracturing.
In this sense, I said that not only prices for consumers are worth thinking about again, but also that “the arguments against it are outdated.” The minister recorded that an independent commission of experts from the Bundestag, the lower house of the German Parliament, confirmed in 2021 that the technology “is responsible.”
“The ban should be lifted. Then private investors can decide if extraction is economically viable. I expect competitive advantages against gas from other regions of the world,” he added. Overall, he predicted that energy prices will reach a “new normal.”
“Gas from liquefied natural gas terminals is more expensive than that from Russian pipelines and only for logistical reasons. Thus, the price level will remain higher, but without ruinous peaks,” he said. Regarding the war, Linder said that “only Ukraine decides under what conditions there could be talks with Moscow.”
“Russia is morally bankrupt, increasingly also economically and militarily. We must do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine’s resilience remains greater than the malevolence emanating from (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” he added.
He pointed out that it is necessary to analyze every day where more can be done, for which Germany maintains close contact with its allies and with the Ukrainian government. “Where there are still possibilities to put pressure on Putin, we must take advantage of them,” he said.
