According to Economics Minister Robert Habeck, the gas surcharge will be introduced as planned on October 1st. It is necessary as a bridge to ensure Uniper’s financial solidity, Habeck said on Wednesday in Berlin.
With the gas levy, a legally secure way has now been found to “push free riders off the footboard,” the minister continued.
“For Uniper, the problems have clearly dramatized. The company accounts for 40 percent of Germany’s gas supply,” said Habeck, thereby justifying the nationalization of Uniper. “It forced us to act to ensure security of supply for Germany.”
The minister went on to say: “However, the question of constitutional review now arises, but this has not yet been completed.” The implementation of the planned nationalization of Uniper will take at least three months. Whether the surcharge can still be levied in accordance with the constitution when Uniper is a state-owned company is a legitimate question. The exams were in full swing.
“The state will, as we show, do everything necessary to keep the company stable on the market,” says Habeck. That applies to Uniper, but also to other systemically important gas importers. “One way of not letting the state do everything is the gas levy.” This would allow gas importers to pass on their higher costs in advance.
