Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) welcomes the takeover of the ailing gas importer Uniper by the federal government. The entry of the state can only ever be a means for an absolute emergency, said Wüst of the "Rheinische Post" (Thursday). "And that's clearly the case at Uniper at the moment." Uniper accounts for 40 percent of Germany's gas supply, and more than 100 municipal utilities are dependent on the company. "This makes Uniper existentially important for security of supply," said Wüst about the company based in Düsseldorf.
If the gas surcharge were to be dropped, Wüst refused to raise the sales tax on gas again. "The other way around, it's correct: we have to get down with the burdens, including taxes on energy," said the CDU politician to the "Rheinische Post".
