Representatives of the German federal states and the railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) met to discuss the stabilization of supplies of critical raw materials by rail due to supply problems on routes to Salzgitter and Arcelormittal.
Germany's railway network is suffering from disruptions on all lines, mainly due to ongoing construction work. In recent weeks, there have been serious disruptions in the supply of ore and coke by rail to Salzgitter-Flachstahl, as well as to the ArcelorMittal plants in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt.
DB said in a statement that the company has taken urgent measures to prioritize cargo transportation, as well as increased staff to support this, according to Kallanish.
Meanwhile, three German states with intensive steel production have asked DB to negotiate on this issue. Last week, DB CEO Evelyn Palla met with the prime ministers of three German states - Lower Saxony, Saarland and Brandenburg. The meeting was also attended by the heads of subsidiaries DB InfraGO (railway network) and DB Cargo (freight transportation), and this was a signal to DB that it takes the problems of the industries very seriously.
As a result of the negotiations, DB InfraGo will organize a round table to discuss long-term legal protection measures. "I am pleased that DB has realized the gravity of the situation and that it will continue to discuss long-term solutions with steelmakers to ensure the sustainability of the supply chain," says Olaf Lies, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony.
Author: Christian Kel
Kallanish.com
