Schwedt's oil refinery in poverty: state aids of 400 million euros!

Schwedt's oil refinery in poverty: state aids of 400 million euros!

In the current debate about the future of the PCK oil raffinery in Schwedt, which is over 100 kilometers from the Berlin government district, the signs are on storm. The political distance to the refinery is getting bigger, especially under the traffic light government, which focuses on renewable energies and puts locations like Schwedt into a precarious location. Robert Habeck and the Greens have made life difficult for the refinery in the past, which raises numerous concerns. The latest step in this topic: The PCK has submitted an application for state aid of 400 million euros to cushion the impending financial bottlenecks, such as [SPIEGEL] (https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/pck-schwedt-oelraffinerie-beart-400-million-aatshilfen-a -.16f04b-9cfe4-9d1a-d239a9ffa) reported.

The distance to the capital and the associated political alienation are challenges that the refinery must master. The Federal Government has extended the federal trusteeship of the federal government six times since September 2022, which confirms control over the company, but also increases uncertainty about its future. The new Minister of Economic Affairs Katharina from the CDU has extended the job guarantees by six months, but this is only a drop on the hot stone, because more comprehensive solutions are urgently needed to create a perspective for Schwedt, such as Nordkurier determined.

state aid and subsidies

The applied for 400 million euros could be a turning point. According to the Institute of the German Economy, companies and households in Germany receive subsidies every year, which are often implemented through tax benefits and direct financial aid. This year, the financial aid rose to over 45 billion euros, and another increase will be planned for 2024. Impressive 83 out of 138 financial aid this year relate to environmental and climate protection, which underlines the relevance of such measures.

The PCK refinery, which suffers from political decisions, needs more than just short-term aid. The owners' structure and the future pipeline from Rostock to Schwedt are still unsolved, which arises for the concerns of the workforce and the region. The Federal Government is responsible for developing a conclusive strategy so that the refinery does not starve on the outstretched arm, as Nordkurier formulated.

Time is pushing - Schwedt and the PCK need a clear perspective that goes beyond short -term financial aid. This is the only way to take a stable economic course and at the same time master the challenges of the energy transition.