gas crisis:The state is trying to get started
In order to save ailing gas importers, state participation should also be possible. That could also target the Uniper Group. Its shares promptly plummeted.
By Michael Bauchmüller, Berlin
Speculations about a possible state involvement put the shares of the gas importer Uniper under pressure again on Monday. By the early evening they had dropped again by a quarter – after having lost a lot of value in the previous week. The background to this is preliminary work by the federal government to support ailing gas importers. According to this, the state should, similar to during the pandemic, be able to support companies with targeted loans – right up to entry. For example, companies that operate or supply critical infrastructure could be supported by the federal government investing in shares or silent participations, i.e. without voting rights.
The Düsseldorf-based Uniper Group had lost its previous earnings forecast last week – as a result of throttled natural gas deliveries via the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 1. The failed gas imports could only be replaced at great expense, Uniper said. However, the additional costs could not be passed on to customers, which is why the company is now negotiating support with the federal government. It was initially unclear whether this would inevitably mean that the federal government would get involved.