Representatives of German states and railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) have met to discuss the stabilisation of critical raw materials travelling via rail following concerning supply problems on routes to Salzgitter and ArcelorMittal.
The German railway network is suffering from interruption along the lines, mainly due to ongoing construction work. Recent weeks have seen serious shortcomings with railbound supplies of ore and coke to Salzgitter Flachstahl as well as ArcelorMittal’s mills in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt.
In a statement, DB says it has taken immediate measures to prioritise supply transport, and has also increased staff to support this, Kallanish learns.
Meanwhile, three German states with intensive steel production have called on DB for talks in the matter. Last week, the ceo of DB, Evelyn Palla, met with the prime ministers of three German states, Lower Saxony, Saarland, and Brandenburg. The meeting also involved the heads of subsidiaries DB InfraGO (railway network) and DB Cargo (freight) and was a signal that DB that it takes the worries of the industries very seriously.
As a result of the talks, DB InfraGo will form a round table to debate long-term remedies. “I welcome that DB has recognised that the situation is serious, and that it will keep discussing long-term solutions for a resilient supply chain with steelmakers,” says Olaf Lies, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony.
Author: Christian Koehl
