Companies that consume a lot of electricity or gas have a problem in Germany: They can hardly compete with international rivals who benefit from cheaper energy — and for whom grid fees, energy taxes and government-mandated levies are unfamiliar concepts. The nitrogen plant in Piesteritz, in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, for example, produces essential basic chemicals such as nitric acid and ammonia. These are used to make fertilizers or explosives, among other things. But at the beginning of the year, Managing Director Carsten Franzke had to shut down parts of his production because manufacturing had simply become unprofitable. Franzke is urgently calling on the federal government to provide better framework conditions to ensure the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries. Otherwise, there is a risk of relocation — and with it, growing dependence on imports and the goodwill of other countries, both in food production and in defense.

This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.