As expected, the city council’s economic committee has postponed the phase-out of coal in the thermal power plant north by another year, to winter 2024/25, with a large majority. In the debate on Tuesday, parliamentary group spokespersons Dominik Krause (Greens) and Stefan Jagel (Die Linke) spoke of a “bitter trade-off” between climate protection and security of supply for citizens. Only the ÖDP and the left voted against the postponement; the ÖDP wanted to convert HKW Nord from coal to natural gas. In view of the continuing tense situation with the gas supply, this was too uncertain for the other parties.
Christoph Bieniek, head of electricity and heat generation at Stadtwerke München (SWM), warned that despite the uncertain development of the gas price, a decision would have to be made this autumn as to whether the HKW should be converted to natural gas operation or not: “We can no longer react this winter.” Contracts would have to be terminated, orders placed, offers obtained. In fact, this could mean that the municipal utilities will simply start implementing natural gas from the fall without a decision from the city council. Left boss Jagel complained that essential information for the decision is missing, especially about the costs and CO₂ emissions.