A recent attack on Berlin’s power grid, which left significant portions of the city in darkness, is not an isolated incident and could readily be replicated in any other German city, according to Ingbert Liebing, CEO of the Association of Municipal Utilities (VKU). In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Liebing emphasized that the vulnerability extends beyond power lines, warning that Germany’s water supply is also at risk.
Liebing dismissed the notion of inherent reliability in Germany’s energy infrastructure, acknowledging that even technologically advanced systems are susceptible to targeted attacks. He stated the nation is currently embroiled in a “hybrid war” facing threats from both internal and external sources. This assessment reflects a growing concern within German security circles regarding the increasing sophistication and frequency of attacks targeting critical infrastructure.
He expressed frustration with the current pace of investigations into the “Vulkangruppe” a group claiming responsibility for the Berlin attack, emphasizing a need for intensified scrutiny. Liebing contrasted the responsiveness observed in cases involving assaults on individuals with the perceived sluggishness in pursuing those responsible for attacks on infrastructure, implying a potential prioritization bias.
The ongoing debate surrounding the new “Critical Infrastructure Law” (Kritis) currently under parliamentary consideration also drew Liebing’s attention. He argued that protecting critical infrastructure is fundamentally a responsibility of the state. Private network operators, he asserted, are powerless to defend against threats like drone surveillance and targeted attacks; the onus falls on security agencies to provide that protection.
However, Liebing cautioned that bolstering security measures carries a significant financial burden. He warned that should utilities be required to make further extensive investments in security, corresponding financial relief is imperative to avoid escalating energy prices further for consumers. He reinforced the call for utilizing the federal government’s special fund to address these escalating security requirements, signaling a political pressure point for lawmakers to balance national security with the economic impact on citizens. The situation underscores the precariousness of Germany’s infrastructure and highlights the necessity for a comprehensive and adequately funded approach to national security.
