The Association of the Oil Industry has strongly warned the black‑red coalition about planned interventions in the fuel market. Chief executive Christian Küchen, who heads the business association Fuels and Energy, told ntv that measures the Union and SPD propose to tighten price regulation for gasoline and diesel are harmful.
Küchen said the most problematic aspect is the reversal of the burden of proof for price increases. The draft legislation is framed as a “ban” that does not clearly define when prices qualify as “reasonable” price calculations, creating uncertainty that could, in the worst case, jeopardise Germany’s supply security. He urged the government to stick to factual evidence, arguing that the entire federal cabinet’s package is built on speculation, suspicion, and emotion.
