The Greens have criticized the plans put forward by Economic Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) to sustain Germany’s refineries, labeling the initiative as merely an extension of fossil fuel business models. Michael Kellner, the energy policy spokesperson for the Greens’ parliamentary group, told the “Rheinisches Post” that Reiche’s refining strategy appears to be an attempt to “prolong the lifespan of oil.”
According to the Greens’ politician, refineries should be receiving support for new green industries, rather than receiving aid that extends the consumption of oil, which damages both the climate and nature. Kellner stated that this consumption is thankfully already declining in Germany, and this necessary process must continue to accelerate. He argued that only this transition will achieve “greater independence from figures like Trump, Putin, and others.”
Minister Reiche commenced the process for developing a comprehensive refinery strategy this Friday, a plan intended to guarantee the long-term security of the eleven refineries currently operating in Germany.
