Berlin – Germany’s steel industry is pressing for swift action on electricity pricing and procurement policies ahead of a summit convened by Chancellor Scholz, scheduled to begin Thursday afternoon at the Chancellery. The core demand: a competitive industrial electricity price and preferential treatment for domestically produced, climate-kind steel in government contracts.
The urgency stems from the industry’s transition to electric production methods, wich require considerably lower energy costs to remain competitive internationally. Economics Minister Robert Habeck announced Monday that a reduced electricity price is anticipated to take effect January 1, 2026, but the specific amount remains undisclosed. Together, steelmakers are advocating for “green steel” – produced with minimal environmental impact - to be prioritized in public tenders, including railway vehicle purchases and publicly funded housing projects. The federal government is also urged to lobby at the EU level to credit automakers for utilizing green steel towards fleet emission limits, a topic previously discussed during a recent automotive industry summit. A concluding document from Thursday’s meeting is not currently planned.
