In view of the early exit from lignite in North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony is calling for better federal support for structural change. At the same time as the federal government intends to accelerate the phase-out of coal, the transformation processes in the coal regions must also be accelerated, accompanied and simplified, explained Regional Development Minister Thomas Schmidt on Tuesday. Above all, it is about making the funding periods more flexible and practical. Coal phase-out and structural development are two sides of the same coin.

The phase-out of lignite in the Rhenish mining area is to be brought forward to 2030, eight years earlier than planned. At the same time, in view of the energy crisis, two power plant blocks should continue to run until spring 2024. In Saxony, lignite is mined in the Lusatian mining area and in the Central German mining area, which also belongs to Saxony-Anhalt.

Press release from the Saxon State Ministry for Regional Development