The imminent gas crisis affects almost all areas of life - the crematoria also want to change, as they announce. So far, most have used gas, but there are alternatives. This includes electrical systems. According to an association, prices could still rise.
Because of the high gas prices, some crematoria in Germany are considering changing their processes. According to the quality association for cremation facilities, cremation for relatives of the deceased could nevertheless become more expensive overall.
Accordingly, some crematoria were planning to switch to electrical systems, others to liquid gas. In Augsburg, it is being considered to reduce the legally prescribed minimum temperature for cremations by 100 to 750 degrees with a special municipal permit.
According to the association, there are around 160 crematoria, of which around two-thirds are run by local authorities and one-third privately. Nationwide, cremation is already chosen for about three quarters of all deceased. The share continues to rise.
According to its own statements, Germany's largest company of this type near Dachsenhausen near Koblenz wants to operate two cremation systems around the clock without natural gas in the future. The use of natural gas is only necessary at the beginning and after maintenance and repairs.
"Once the operating temperature is reached, the cremation in these special systems feeds on the energy of the deceased or the coffin," it said. However, the 24-hour operation would increase personnel costs. According to their own statements, other crematoria, such as those in Koblenz and Ludwigshafen, at least extend their daily running times.
According to the Aeternitas association, which is dedicated to burial culture, most of the deceased in Germany are cremated. Accordingly, the proportion is around three quarters. The share of the classic burial in the coffin continues to decrease. The urns must also be buried in a cemetery, there is the so-called cemetery obligation.
