LAV Magazin 2020

I n July, Germany took over the EU Council Presidency at a time when Europe is facing a key challenge for the future. The Green Deal needs to be implemented and Europe’s energy supply responsibly secured, while the economic turmoil caused by the co- rona crisis continues to determine the framework and the discussion. There are high expectations for Germany’s EU Presidency. I am convinced that Germany can and must play a central role in Europe in mastering the challenge of ensuring an equally ecological and economical en- ergy supply. Ultimately, however, this can only be achieved through an united EU in which national go-it-alone ap- proaches are put aside and robust com- promises are found. Chancellor Angela Merkel is tasked with playing a decisive role in shaping the European process during the six months of Presidency. She has the chance to send a strong signal as she “bids farewell” at the end of her tenure: for an economically strong Europe that sets standards in climate protection and modern energy provision. The work of an international energy company like Wintershall Dea, which has its headquarters in Germany and is at home in Europe, thrives on open bor- ders and everything that distinguishes the EU politically and economically. The European market is economically strong like no other. As Europe’s lead- ing independent gas and oil company, we benefit every day from the stable economic environment and the strong voice that the EU has in the world. A historic task for Europe In principle, Europe is well positioned to combine climate protection and en- ergy security even in the economical- ly extremely challenging times of the corona crisis. We Europeans just have About Wintershall Dea The company explores for and produces natural gas and crude oil in 13 countries worldwide. Latin America is one of Wintershall Dea’s core regions, with activities in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. to play our options wisely. The impor- tant thing is that we need to be open to all productive technologies and use all our resources and opportunities to make energy supplies fit for the fu- ture – as quickly, safely and afforda- bly as possible. Europe will be able to serve as a model for other countries and continents. Only then Europe can show the world how economic growth and prosperity can be combined in the long term with the key objectives of ambitious climate protection. This is a task of historic proportions for Europe. And, what’s more, this is the historic task of Europe today. The very high environmental standards and technological expertise of Euro- pean industry are important trump cards in this respect. The ecological footprint of the European gas and oil industry, for example, is around 20 per cent smaller than outside of Europe. At the same time, European E&P compa- nies are working intensively to further reduce their CO2 and methane emis- sions. Wintershall Dea is at the fore- front of this commitment. The EU has a functioning internal en- ergy market and benefits from its short distances. Take the example of natural gas. Europe needs gas to meet its cli- mate targets. This is because natural gas makes the energy transition affordable and is already the cleanest conventional energy source. Last year, for example, switching from coal to natural gas for generating electricity saved over five million tonnes of CO2 in Germany alone! But natural gas can also help us reduce emissions quickly and cost-ef- fectively in the heating and mobility areas. Last but not least, natural gas is a valuable resource for producing CO2- free hydrogen from it. Being open-minded and utilising all potential wisely Both Germany and the EU want hy- drogen as a clean energy carrier for Jointly shaping energy and economic policy – and thus strengthening the voice of Europe 28 Wintershall Dea