Craft President Jörg Dittrich has warned of the failure of the energy transition in view of the burdens on companies in the crisis. The craft is the implementer of this turn. “We are threatened that the energy transition will fail because the companies will be insolvent beforehand if they have to raise energy prices that they cannot afford,” said the Dresden master roofer of the German Press Agency.
Dittrich called for a sensible plan for an energy transition. 2023 offers an opportunity to repair the previous plan. “We are in the deepest energy crisis right now.” Society, the economy, and trades need reliable energy at affordable prices. That is why the debate about bringing forward the phase-out of coal to 2030 is incomprehensible to him. “I cannot understand the enthusiasm to start a new debate in the deepest crisis that we are currently experiencing with energy,” said the President of the Craft Industry. “We’re in the thick of it, why are we having this debate?”
Debate on phasing out coal
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck is pushing for an earlier phase-out of coal in the East. An early exit to 2030 must be agreed by consensus, said the Green politician recently. This must be “perceived as a good plan in a broad alliance”.
Dittrich pointed out that there is a difference between a coal exit in North Rhine-Westphalia and in the east, for example in Lusatia. “It’s not possible that this region should bear the brunt.” He would like the fervor of the discussion to be focused on other topics – such as relieving the burden of bureaucracy, speeding up approval procedures and digitizing the administration. That’s the homework. He will raise these issues with the Ministry of Economy.
Dittrich has been President of the Central Association of German Crafts since the beginning of the year. According to his own statements, his family business is over 100 years old.
