Heavy industry is calling for energy cost measures

With one aluminum foundry closing in Europe due to high electricity and gas prices, Greek industries are calling on the government and Brussels to take immediate measures to reduce the energy costs that inflate their production and operating costs.

During an online event co-organized by "Hellenic Production - Council of Industries for Development" and the "Hellenic Aluminum Union", representatives of the country's heavy industry described the competitiveness problems they face from the explosion of energy costs and presented specific proposals. The Minister of Environment and Energy Costas Skrekas and the Deputy Minister of Development and Investment Nikos Papathanasis participated in the discussion and they accepted their requests.

300% invoice increases

The economic environment in Europe for heavy industry and specifically for the aluminum industry is suffocating.

Speaking at the event, European Aluminum CEO Gerd Goetz described in bleak terms the suffocating situation in Europe's major aluminum industries: "Electricity bills have risen by 300%. "Large foundries are being forced to close and Europe has lost 700,000 tons of aluminum production in the months of the energy crisis, 30% of primary production."

In turn, George Mentzelopoulos, president of the Hellenic Aluminum Union, stressed the effects of the increased production costs faced by companies in the sector. He praised the government's aid policy, but stressed that "these measures alone are not enough".

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