Kehler: “Safeguarding industry and jobs, protecting the climate – only with gas, hydrogen, and CCS.”

On the occasion of the associations’ meeting during the Energy Ministers’ Conference on acceptance and affordability of the energy transition held today in Berlin, Dr. Timm Kehler, Chairman of the German Association of the Gas and Hydrogen Industry, highlighted key points for a successful industrial transformation:

“The acceptance of the energy transition is based on combining climate protection with competitiveness. To achieve this, three things are essential: secure energy, affordable hydrogen, and clear rules for dealing with CO₂. Gas remains a central pillar – it provides affordable heating and reliable electricity supply, forms the basis for hydrogen, and keeps our industry running.

That is why we now need long-term oriented gas procurement, an intelligent strategy for using our storage facilities, and fully built LNG terminals. Only then can we stabilize electricity and gas prices and secure thousands of jobs in the steel, chemical, and SME sectors.

On this stable foundation, the hydrogen ramp-up will also succeed – together with CCS as another climate-friendly option for industry. Both belong together: hydrogen and CO₂ storage are not opposites, but a dual opportunity for climate protection and competitiveness.”