Energy minister “disappoints” business sector

Peter Altmaier’s track record as Germany’s economy and energy minister lacks actions, particularly in energy policy, Antje Höning and Birgit Marschall write in the Rheinische Post. “The energy transition resembles a construction site, and the planned coal exit is dividing the country,” they say. Since March, Altmaier has still not found an energy state secretary for his ministry – currently Hildegard Müller, innogy’s COO for grid & infrastructure, is a possible candidate, the article says. In September, Germany’s Court of Auditors criticised the government for not managing the energy transition better, and Rolf Martin Schmitz, head of energy company RWE, said that “for a long time, federal policy has set guidelines and a target for the energy industry. None of this can be seen at the moment.”

Read the article in German here.

For background, read the CLEW articles Merkel puts long-time confidant in charge of energy transition and First 100 days- German government in disarray neglects energy policy.