Monday, 7 November 2011
The federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in 2011
is less need to raise subsidies for coal mining in Germany, expiring
in 2011 than originally anticipated.
In the current year would probably be around 500 million euros in aid
not used, said the President of the General Association of coal, Bernd
Tönjes, on Monday in Essen. The reason for this is due to increased
world market prices for coal. The subsidized coal mining in Germany,
which is bundled under the umbrella of the RAG Group is to expire
2018th The aid must be under an agreement between the EU Commission
and the Federal Government to go back down gradually.
GREEN ENERGY INSTEAD OF BLACK GOLD
The RAG is concerned, according to Tönnies now with how they may
participate in the planned energy systems in Germany. Their stockpiles
would provide about a "whole range" of possible applications for
renewable energy - from the erection of wind turbines to pump storage
power plants in abandoned coal mines. This can help to save
electricity from alternative energy sources. Without opportunities for
energy storage are the energy goals of the federal government not to
implement, said Tonnies, who is also head of RAG.
The North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President Hannelore called
pumped storage power projects in old mines "attractive". The
provincial government will do everything in their power to support
them. The mooted by the Federal government energy policy to let the
rest do not do without coal power plants, which would also be
environmentally friendly.
