Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy launches dialogue process "GAS 2030"

On 21 February 2019, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) launched its Gas 2030 program in front of over 100 participants in Berlin. Figawa CEO, Volker Meyer, also attended this launch event.

The BMWi emphasised that after the decision to phase out coal-fired power generation, it is important for the ministry in the future to work out the great potential of gas as an energy source and to formulate it in a politically appropriate way.

In particular, the use of the existing gas infrastructure is the "rail for renewable energies". At the same time, the importance for German stakeholders to take note of European and international developments at an early stage was underlined.

As part of its G20 presidency, Japan will soon be giving the topic of hydrogen a place of prominence. One sees the questions of energy import, which are inevitably postulated by the rejection of coal energy and the energy policy objectives of the European Commission, as a great opportunity of gas energy in line with other energy sources.

The aim and mission of the ministry is to develop a map of the different options for using gases in different sectors, such as industry, buildings, transport and electricity.

This was underlined by the German Energy Agency (dena). International solutions based on a common basic understanding are the order of the day. dena accompanies the dialogue process as a branch office together with the BMWi.

By September 2019, data, facts and recommendations for political action are to be developed. For this purpose a questionnaire was handed over to the stakeholders. In practical terms, there will be two major areas, production and infrastructure and the use of gases.

On behalf of figawa, Meyer expressed his support for the initiative of BMWi and dena. figawa will actively support this process and is part of the working group for the use of gases in those sectors.

Further information in the newsletter 03/2019 of the BMWi.

Contact:
Volker Meyer