Germany to Nationalize Gas Importer Giant Uniper

The German government announced it will nationalize Uniper, the country’s largest importer of Russian gas, expanding state intervention to prevent an energy shortage due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The move builds on a €15 billion (US$14.8 billion) rescue package from July 2022 intended to stabilize Uniper, which supplies 40 percent of the natural gas used in Germany. The country’s government announced an additional US$7.9 billion capital increase to take ownership of 99 percent of the company. “The decision was made to ensure security of supply for Germany,” said Robert Habeck, German Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate.

Ready? This is the Week in Energy!

Pros and Cons of Increasing Distributed Generation Capacity

Since 2020, there have been several proposals from deputies of the PVEM, PRI and PAN political parties to modify Article 17 of the Electricity Industry Law (LIE). The modifications aim to increase the limit of small-scale photovoltaic solar distributed generation (DG) capacity that does not require a permit from the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE). Rubber stamping this increase would have various benefits, but also some drawbacks, say experts.

Read the full article here.

No Clean Energy, No Nearshoring: CEEG

Mexico must promote access to competitive and clean energy sources to attract nearshoring investment from foreign companies, said Alberto de la Fuente, President, Executive Board of Global Companies (CEEG): "We must continue to build dialogue with governments at all levels, or else we will not spread nearshoring.  Hopefully, we can convince the government about the importance of enforcing our policy so that companies will continue to do business here.”

Solarever to Build its Own Industrial Park in Jalisco

Solarever announced a US$1 billion investment to develop an industrial park in Jalisco dedicated to developing modules, solar cells, batteries, aluminum and glass, among other elements needed to produce solar panels. The industrial development will have a total area of 10ha and will be located in Zacoalco de Torres, an hour’s drive from Guadalajara.

Furthermore, the Chinese company stated that in five years, the park will be expanded to start the production and assembly of electric vehicles.

View from the Top

Do not miss this week’s interviews:

• Power Protection Yields Grid Reliability, with David Sánchez, Vice President of Engineering Services, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL)
• Decarbonization Drives Energy Transition Within Companies, with Sergio Burganza, CEO, Amara NZero Mexico