No balanced energy mix without home-produced coal
In the energy policy section of its Annual Economic Report 2009 the Federal Government states that: "Germany needs a broad energy mix, which includes home-produced coal".
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The alternative would be an even greater reliance on imported fuels. “Only home-produced coal offers a high degree of security of supply. And there are also economic and energy related reasons in favour of using indigenous fuel. However, coal in general - and lignite in particular - are primary targets for climate policy makers and will in future be subject to increasingly stringent restrictions. If certain environmental organisations get their way it will spell the end of all coal utilisation in Germany in the medium term. This would have disastrous consequences for our energy policy. In any case the political course has already been set against the long-term use of German-produced coal. A decision was taken in 2007 to phase out subsidised coal production (under the proviso of a review clause) by 2018 and to remove its contribution completely from the energy mix. The proposed review of the coal-industry closure decision will have to be undertaken in consideration of all energy policy targets and not just the environmental aspects.
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Source: Gesamtverband Steinkohle, www.gvst.de
