Posted on 08/08/2022 4:58:03 AM PDT by FarCenter
In 400 years, Heinz-Glas, one of the world's biggest producers of glass perfume bottles, has seen off many crises -- including the two World Wars and the oil shock of the 1970s in the last century alone.
But Germany's current energy emergency strikes at the heart of its very existence.
"We are experiencing an exceptional situation," Murat Agac, deputy chief executive of the family-owned company founded in 1622, told AFP.
"If there is a halt in gas supplies... then glass production will very likely disappear" from Germany, he said.
To make glass, sand is heated to temperatures of up to 1,600 degrees Celsius (2,912 degrees Fahrenheit) and gas is the most frequently chosen source of energy.
Until recently, a glut of gas flowing to Germany via a pipeline from Russia had helped keep production costs low, allowing Heinz-Glas to book annual revenues of some 300 million euros ($305 million).
With competitive prices, exports made up 80 percent of the glassmaker's total output.
But this economic model is now being called into question after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
#photo1 Moscow has cut gas supplies to Germany by 80 percent, in what is believed to be a bid to weaken the resolve of Europe's biggest economy in backing Ukraine.
Berlin is scrambling for alternative energy sources to replace the resource that once made up 55 percent of its total gas imports.
The consequence: soaring energy prices.
For Heinz-Glas, that has meant a "ten- to 20-fold increase" in costs compared to 2019, said Agac.
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
.
Maybe they should have listened to President Trump.
L
One wonders, do the company records include drawings showing their furnaces in 1622?
Have they actually forgotten how to make glass?
Germany, UK, France, etc all have natural gas under their feet that is obtainable via fracking.
But they will not because the EU has submitted to the uneducated environmental movement.
A pox on them all.
100% Biden’s fault.
They probably used charcoal to fire the furnaces originally, then coke, now gas. But, that is just a guess.
They survived the Thirty Years War too, which was very bloody in Germany.
Take that, Putin!!!!
It looks like German perfume will be coming in milk cartons.
Then maybe they should open Nordstream 2 that is ready to go and quit antagonizing their vendor.
>>They survived the Thirty Years War too, which was very bloody in Germany.
German losses were also economic during the Thirty Years War.
When 17th Century armies of 5,000 to 30,000 men were on the move, they foraged for miles to either side of the line of march. This left the peasants stripped of fodder, seed grain and animals, and the peasants subsequently died of starvation.
Put a solar panel on top of the factory and a couple windmills out front. Everything should be fine.
What does German perfume smell like? Bratwurst and sauerkraut? Might be better than most perfumes at that.
Bingo. Gaia Worship is KILLING them. Its hurting us badly but it is absolutely killing Europe now that they can’t rely on cheap Russian gas.
They could of course produce their own energy again like they used to. They have nuclear technology and even plenty of coal of their own. They also have at least some recoverable natural gas and oil of their own if they would allow fracking and offshore drilling.
The only thing standing between them preserving their standard of living and preserving their modern economies or them falling into abject poverty is Gaia Worship.
Where do you think cologne was developed?
Cologne, Germany
You turn that furnace off, and it is tens of millions to restart.
The entire furnace has to be rebuilt.
Take note, they want to do that here. I have heard serious conversations about banning natural gas
“the two German factories need the equivalent of “3,000 football fields of solar panels” to operate.”
“What does German perfume smell like?”
Have you ever heard of cologne?
https://www.amazon.com/cologne/s?k=cologne
“I have heard serious conversations about banning natural gas”
Yes, to the point where in some cities you can’t put a gas stove in new construction. Like the CO2 produced during home cooking is going to make any difference. Even my lefty brother doesn’t fall for that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.