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Energy crisis an ‘existential threat’ to EU metal production, heavy industries
(EurActiv, 7 Sep 2022) The European Union needs to reduce power costs in the region to prevent the permanent closure of metal producing plants in the region, which would increase reliance on imports with higher carbon footprints, industry association Eurometaux said
About 50% of EU aluminium and zinc production capacity “has already been forced offline due to the power crisis”, Eurometaux said in a letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Those concerns are echoed by a wider coalition of energy-intensive industries – including cement, steel, chemicals, and fertilisers – which have warned about the “extreme level” of gas prices on the European market.
“The last weeks saw a great number of industrial plants shutting their doors or reducing their
production in Europe and more are expected in the forthcoming weeks,” the coalition said in a separate letter to von der Leyen.
“These massive plants curtailments will increase Europe’s dependency on third markets for strategic supply chains and will drastically increase the global carbon emissions,” they warned.
EU ministers meet on 9 September to discuss urgent measures to respond to a surge in gas and power prices that is hammering Europe’s industry after Russia curbed gas deliveries to the bloc.
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EurActiv, 7 Sep 2022: Energy crisis an ‘existential threat’ to EU metal production, heavy industries
