We all knew that European solidarity was only a stage behind which the truth of nationwide enterprise took priority. But in the previous couple of hours, data from the German media has lifted the veil on the means utilized by the German authorities to make sure that Fab Intel could be established on its territory. At the start of the 12 months, we had affirmation that Intel had chosen the Magdeburg website in return for a considerable EU grant (topped up by Germany). But the German media outlet Handelsblatt claims that the help for the institution of this FAB goes a lot additional, and considerations the worth of electrical energy that will be equipped for the primary 10 years of the positioning’s operation. Of course, this settlement is clearly properly “hidden”, as objectively it’s somewhat troublesome to defend. In the primary place, it quantities to unfair competitors, however above all, it contrasts with the rising vitality costs dealing with German residents.
How to arrange an energy-intensive trade in a Germany beneath electrical stress?
The German authorities is conscious of the dangers of exposing such an settlement, and formally, it doesn’t exist. Factually, Intel would have requested Berlin for state assist when electrical energy costs exceeded a sure threshold, however Germany replied categorically no. However, some German media have identified the existence of a clause that was snatched away after a remaining push. It permits Intel to ask for assist if electrical energy costs rise an excessive amount of… It’s a “speech clause” that has been agreed, permitting German politicians to reply the robust questions with most creativity.
The media that raised the wolf due to this fact determined to place the query on to Udo Philips, German State Secretary on the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action. His reply is a superb second of contortionism, of which politicians have the key:
“With regard to guaranteeing future electrical energy costs, it’s agreed that the federal authorities is ready to enter into discussions with the corporate to hunt options and study help choices. “
If electrical energy costs rise sharply, Intel can once more flip to the federal authorities and ask for added state assist. Officially, nothing is for certain. Intel is at present in talks with a number of native vitality suppliers. The goal: the group desires to agree on buy ensures to make sure a median electrical energy value of ten cents per kilowatt-hour for 20 years. It must also be borne in thoughts that the help will allow the most important firms in German trade to have already got a sure stage of value safety to forestall relocation. The Intel Fab, along with the difficulty raised right here, would additionally fall inside this framework.
Intel’s future fab in Magdeburg will use the newest expertise in high-intensity excessive ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. It’s laborious to think about that Intel didn’t “handle” this concern earlier than making its alternative.
