More than 150 participants gathered in Berlin as industrial associations warned that parts of the transport, defense, and manufacturing sectors cannot be sensibly electrified, leaving hydrocarbons essential for a resilient crisis supply.
The event, organized jointly by the en2x fuels and energy business association and the German World Energy Council, addressed the transition from fossil to renewable raw materials known as the Molekülwende, en2x reported. Industry leaders emphasized that multi-billion-euro investments require lighter regulation, streamlined bureaucratic procedures, and a revised energy tax framework that favors renewable fuels.
Refinery infrastructure acts as a future insurance policy for the economy, according to Prof. Christian Küchen, managing director at en2x. The shift toward renewable raw materials must secure energy supply in a climate-friendly manner without imposing redundant legal hurdles.
Dr. Holger Lösch, deputy managing director of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), echoed the call for less and better regulation to fortify the domestic industrial base. Resilience, competitiveness, and climate protection must advance in tandem under reliable and practical framework conditions, Lösch stated.
To accelerate the market ramp-up of new products, Küchen pointed to an energy tax reform that grants structural advantages to renewable fuels over traditional fossil variants. Companies need dedicated space for innovative business models rather than conflicting administrative mandates.
| Organization | Representative | Core Position |
|---|---|---|
| en2x | Prof. Christian Küchen | Refineries are future insurance; call for energy tax reform favoring renewables. |
| BDI | Dr. Holger Lösch | Demand for “less and better regulation” to safeguard competitiveness. |
| Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy | Kurt-Christoph von Knobelsdorff | Warning against import dependency driven by refinery closures. |
| World Energy Council Germany | Dr. Carsten Rolle | Technologies must prove themselves in the market without excessive complexity. |
Kurt-Christoph von Knobelsdorff, head of the refinery strategy project group at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, cautioned against the acute risk of rising import dependency. Regions forced into becoming fuel islands through domestic refinery shutdowns face higher acquisition costs and compromised supply security.
The federal government’s refinery strategy aims to chart a stable course through these structural headwinds. Ensuring local processing capacity remains a primary defense against external supply shocks.
Dr. Carsten Rolle, managing director of the World Energy Council Germany, noted that navigating EU-level decisions presents ongoing hurdles.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
