Mr. Vassiliadis, do you agree that German companies and consumers are still paying billions to Putin's regime for gas and oil?

Dietrich Creutzburg

Business correspondent in Berlin.

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I don't think that's a good thing.

But since we haven't had enough other sources so far and don't want to exhaust our opportunities to produce gas in Germany, we have to do it this way at the moment.

In recent years, we have become increasingly dependent on Russia as a result of conscious energy policy decisions.

Of course, we should now get rid of that as quickly as possible – but that's not easy with gas.

As little as I like this situation, a political decision to exit immediately would be wrong in view of the looming economic and social upheaval.

Does that only apply to gas or do you also reject the planned oil embargo?

That also brings great burdens, because it exacerbates the already sharp rise in prices.

But precisely because of its role in dependence on Russian gas, Germany should support the planned oil embargo.

Always on the condition that the supply of the East German refineries, which are particularly dependent on Russian oil, is secured via alternative routes.

The gas could also be missing due to a delivery stop.

What do you think should be done then?

All of us - the federal government, companies, employees and private households - have to be prepared for the fact that the energy supply can be very difficult in autumn.

Therefore, the best possible preparation is now urgent.

At the political level, this means that the federal government should better organize an energy summit with the key players today than tomorrow in order to coordinate the necessary steps at the top level.

At the technical level, there is already an intensive exchange, which is good.

But if there ever was reason for an energy summit led by the Federal Chancellor and Economics Minister, then now.

What should it be about?

We have to clarify how much gas we will then have available for what, what is used as a raw material in production, what is used for electricity, what for heat production?

What impact does this have on other areas?

An example: If more coal-fired power plants are now needed as a reserve to generate electricity instead of gas, then the conditions under which mining can continue in the lignite open-cast mines if necessary must also be clarified.

The companies need planning security for this, because the phase-out of coal has long since begun.

Do you want to shake 2038 as the date for phasing out coal?

I see no urgent reason for this.

Until then, there is still scope to adjust the shutdown dates of the individual power plants as needed.

In the end, everything depends on how the expansion of renewable energies and grids can be further accelerated.

That too should be the subject of such a summit.

Continued operation of the nuclear power plants could also help.

What do you make of it?

There are only three nuclear power plants left.

The really big relief effect is not to be expected from this.

Whether the effort is worth it is an open question.

In any case, we must remember that we are not alone in Europe and that nuclear energy plays a bigger role elsewhere.

Germany shouldn't hinder that there, but give it free rein.

Because we may still be happy to be able to import nuclear power from France - if they then have anything left for us at all.