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More money for research & industry – less money for transport: Brandenburg and the federal government are canceling structural change projects – and promoting new ones
A law should regulate the structural change after the lignite phase-out. Just six months after adoption, the coal states now have new project ideas that are to be funded. Since there is no more money, other projects have to be canceled. From Rico Herkner
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The federal government and the state of Brandenburg have agreed on new priorities for funding projects in structural change after the lignite phase-out. As can be seen from internal government surveys from Brandenburg and Saxony, significantly less money is to be spent on transport infrastructure. Science and research benefit from this. The documents are available to the rbb.
Of the total of 10.3 billion euros in structural aid for Lusatia in Brandenburg, only the so-called federal projects are affected by a change in priorities. That is around 6.7 billion euros. The state arm – i.e. projects decided in the region in workshop procedures – comprises 3.6 billion euros. So far, this money has hardly been planned.
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ICE plant, university clinic and engine development strengthened
The city of Cottbus is likely to be the biggest beneficiary of the realignment. According to the Lausitz representative Klaus Freytag (SPD), the construction of a university clinic and the construction of an ICE plant are now fully financially secured. The schedule for implementing the projects is ambitious. The railway has already started the tenders for the construction services for the ICE plant. For example, 160 million euros are available for roads, rails and overhead lines on the factory premises. The entire plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
In the summer, a commission of experts wants to present the sketch for a future university clinic. We are talking about more than 80 professorships and at least 30 thousand square meters of new office space to be built.
The federal government wants to concentrate the promotion of CO2-free aircraft engines together with aviation groups in Cottbus. The development of new types of aircraft engines is to be subsidized with around 510 million euros.
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New on the list: Lausitz Science Park and Federal Network Agency in Cottbus
The grounds of the Brandenburg Technical University in Cottbus will be integrated into a future science park according to the ideas of the state and federal government – following the example of the Berlin-Adlershof science park. Research institutes of the Fraunhofer Society and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are planning new branches on the new site. 300 million euros are planned for the first attempt.
According to earlier statements by Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD), the long-term goal is to employ at least 1,500 researchers.
The Federal Network Agency wants to start setting up a branch in Cottbus this year. She should be responsible for the regulation of the power grids and a better internet supply in Germany. The authority wants to start with 100 employees.
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Federal projects in Lausitz (excerpt)
Federal Network Agency (Cottbus) 189 million euros
Competence Center for Electromagnetic Fields (Cottbus) 170 million euros
DLR-Institut “next generation turbofan” (Cottbus) 366 Mio Euro
Lausitz Science Park (Cottbus) 300 million euros
Competence Center for Climate Protection (KEI) 120 million euros
Power to X plant (Spremberg) 573 million euros
University Medicine Cottbus 1,000 million euros
ICE plant Cottbus 1,000 million euros
ICE route Berlin-Cottbus-Görlitz 1,600 million euros
Railway line (Cottbus-) Graustein-Kamenz-Dresden 200 million euros
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Fewer transport projects with millions of coal
The initially extensive project list for new rail and road connections in Lusatia, on the other hand, was drastically cut. Only the 200 km long ICE line Berlin-Cottbus-Görlitz is still noted as a major project. The construction is considered expensive because all level crossings have to be replaced by bridges. The goal is a journey time of half an hour between BER airport and Cottbus main train station.
The rail connection between Cottbus and Dresden is to be strengthened via the previously little-used route via Spremberg and Kamenz. Other projects were removed from the project list in order to free up money for research and industry.
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Canceled transport projects (excerpt)
Railway expansion Cottbus-Forst
Railway expansion Cottbus-Ortrand-Dresden
Railway expansion Cottbus-Leipzig
MILAU federal road (Leipzig-Elsterwerda-Weißwasser)
For the Vice President of the IHK Cottbus, Jürgen Hampel, the decision is not understandable. He thinks that planned routes are now being canceled. The reaction of the mining union IGBCE was completely different. Its Lausitz district chairwoman Ute Liebsch says that the new priorities in research and industry are good – after all, Lausitz needs new jobs.
With regard to the canceled transport projects, Lausitz representative Klaus Freytag says: “The federal government has a duty here. Here it has to pay – but not with our coal money.”
Around 750 million euros have not yet been earmarked for federal projects in Lusatia in Brandenburg – the sum may also be earmarked for building price increases.
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Broadcast: Antenne Brandenburg, June 3rd, 2021, 7:30 a.m.
