Saxony's Minister President calls for rescue package for solar industry

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has called for a rescue package for the solar industry from the federal government and the EU. The industry is important for the economic strength and sovereignty of Germany and Europe, said Kretschmer on Wednesday. The federal government and the EU must finally act. Otherwise, many jobs in the east would be at risk.

The background to this is the announcement by Meyer Burger that it intends to close its module production facility in Freiberg if measures are not taken quickly to create fair competitive conditions in Europe. There is talk of around 500 jobs being affected at the site. The company also operates a cell production facility in Saxony-Anhalt and a research and development site in Hohenstein-Ernstthal near Chemnitz, which are not affected by the announcement. The industry has long been complaining about price dumping by solar modules from China.

The announcement is a wake-up call, said Saxony's Energy Minister Wolfram Günther (Greens). A decisive commitment to the solar industry from the Federal Ministry of Finance is needed quickly. "The instruments are known, they need to be financed." The solar industry is important for greater independence from China. "Without state aid, the solar industry in Germany will be shut down for good," stated Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Dulig (SPD). The federal government and the EU must react to "the destruction of the solar market through Chinese subsidies".

The Left Party also believes that the state government has a role to play. "The state government must not wait until the company has decided on the future of the Freiberg plant," said Nico Brünler, economic policy spokesperson for the parliamentary group in the Saxon state parliament. "The solar industry is and will remain an industry of the future. This is another reason why skilled workers must be retained." Meyer Burger's announcement is a slap in the face for the affected employees and all those who are concerned about affordable energy in the long term.