BERLIN, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- German Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier said on Thursday that the government is planning to offer relief to the country's regions affected by the phase-out of coal-fired energy generation.
The structural changes in Germany's coal mining regions caused by the gradual exit from coal-fired power generation should not come "at the expense of the employees, their families and their regions," Altmaier told the German parliament (Bundestag).
Germany is scheduled to shut down its climate-damaging coal-fired power plants and phase out coal by 2038 as proposed by a government commission back in January.
On Monday, the German government presented a draft law, which envisages financial measures amounting to 40 billion euros (43.8 billion U.S. dollars) to support the regions affected by the phase-out of coal-fired energy generation.
Altmaier said that he was "convinced" that once the planned structural changes are implemented, there will be more jobs than before.
The draft law envisages, among other things, the construction of new railways and roads, the expansion of fast internet and mobile communication networks, the establishment of new research and science facilities as well as the promotion of tourism in coal mining regions.
"We want Germany to follow the path towards climate neutrality, but to remain a successful, competitive industrial location," emphasized Altmaier, adding that the withdrawal from coal was the "first and most important" test in this regard.
Oliver Krischer, vice chair of the German Green Party's parliamentary group, said that it would be an "evidence of incapacity" if the government failed to present a law regulating the phase-out of coal-fired energy generation.
The country's coal mining regions would need "planning security," noted Caren Lay, vice chair of the German Left Party's parliamentary group, adding that the government's measures would have to be accompanied by "mandatory shutdown plans."
