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Possible gas shortages continue to worry companies

The chemical industry is one of the largest employers in the Southwest. However, here too high energy prices are causing problems for many companies. The trade union responsible is concerned about jobs in the country and has a specific request.

According to the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE), a possible gas shortage is still driving Southwestern businesses. The question of availability still remains, said Country Manager Catharina Clay of the German news agency. Until coal and nuclear can be offset by renewables, the gas bridge is needed. The big question mark is: how will Germany compete in the future in this mixed situation?

Whether the federal aid and the aid recently launched by the state of Baden-Württemberg will be sufficient will depend on how the matter develops over the winter. We have many companies preparing to eventually go into short-time work. Some Southwestern companies reportedly switched to oil for alternatives. Others – such as toilet paper maker Essity in Mannheim – have pushed ahead with the construction of LNG terminals.

The chemical industry in particular is at the beginning of many industrial chains, Clay said. If plastic can’t be produced, then we have a problem with food packaging. If it is not possible to produce glass vials for the vaccine, we will encounter problems with medical supplies. It’s only right to help companies when their future profitability is threatened by high energy prices.

The union, which invites politicians and business representatives to an energy conference in Karlsruhe on Monday, is also insisting on securing local jobs. If companies receive subsidies from taxpayers’ money, then it must also be ensured that they invest in the future here on the spot and secure jobs, Clay asked. In the press release recently released by the Ministry of the Economy on the launch of liquidity support for small and medium-sized enterprises, not a word was said about job security.

IG BCE in Baden-Württemberg says it represents around 150,000 industrial employees from the chemical and pharmaceutical, paper, plastics, glass and ceramics sectors. According to the Ministry of Economy, the chemical industry is one of the three largest manufacturing sectors in Baden-Württemberg, accounting for 10% of total sales.

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