en.Wedoany.com Reported - The German ruling coalition has agreed on reforms to encourage the construction of gas power plants and attract investment, with a draft bill to be submitted to the German parliament on Thursday. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative bloc and its Social Democratic partners plan to raise the maximum allowed bid in tenders from 173,000 euros (approximately $197,687) to 244,000 euros. This measure is part of the government's plan to tender 12 gigawatts of capacity by 2026, focusing on gas-fired power plants to support the phase-out of coal-fired power capacity.

The energy industry association, the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), welcomed the decision. According to Managing Director Kerstin Andreae, despite rising costs, this move ensures the "economic viability" of investments in "modern gas-fired power plants." The environmental group Greens criticized the reforms, with Michael Kellner serving as the party's spokesperson on energy policy.

To make the reforms more investor-friendly, the draft also proposes amending a requirement for continuous power supply exceeding 10 hours. Expansion will be managed regionally, with one-third of the tender volume developed in northern Germany and two-thirds in southern Germany. The German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) demands that "these measures be passed before the German parliament's summer recess and approved by the European Commission," so that the "next tender" can take place between September and December this year. (1 USD = 0.8751 EUR)