Guidelines are revised
Wissing’s ministry responds to sensitive felt suspicion
08/16/2023, 07:55 am
The head of the policy department of the Ministry of Transport, Klaus Bonhoff, is suspected of having favored a friend when allocating funds. The entrepreneur has reportedly received commitments for almost 100 million euros for hydrogen projects. Funding guidelines are currently being revised.
In view of the accusation of nepotism in his house, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has the FDP revise his ministry’s funding guidelines. This emerges from the response to a request from the CDU MP Felix Schreiner, which the “Augsburger Allgemeine” has received. The aim of the revision is to “improve the administrative processes in funding programs,” it says. The funding strategy has been revised since the spring, this is happening “regardless of the case at hand,” it said with a view to media reports that the head of the policy department of the ministry, Klaus Bonhoff, is said to have favored personal contact when allocating funds.
Like that “Handelsblatt” had reported, it is all about the relationship between the head of department and an entrepreneur. Both are said to be friends and have made skiing holidays together. At the same time, the entrepreneur received commitments for subsidies of around 26 million euros from a hydrogen program of the ministry. It is also about 72.5 million euros from the ministry, with which the entrepreneur should set up a hydrogen center in Lower Bavaria.
“The matter is not off the table yet,” said Schreiner. Obviously there is still a need for clarification within the Federal Ministry of Transport. “The ongoing review of the funding process cannot be interpreted otherwise,” he added.
Lobby Control calls for clarification
The anti-corruption organization Lobbycontrol had urgently called for clarification. “Basically, it can be a sensible and helpful decision when people with a lot of specialist knowledge go into politics. But at the same time, possible conflicts of interest must be kept sharp,” explained Aurel Eschmann from Lobbycontrol in Berlin. The organization called on Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing to ensure transparency and to fully clarify all facts.
Previously, the “Handelsblatt” had also reported that Klaus Bonhoff had several patents for fuel cells and electrolysis. This had caused speculation that he could personally benefit financially from the billions in funding for hydrogen technology from the federal government. However, the patents are said to have expired in the meantime.
Does the Ministry of Transport rely too much on hydrogen?
Lobby control also referred to allegations against the Ministry of Transport that it would rely too heavily on hydrogen technology and, in contrast, neglect electromobility. “Mr. Wissing should ask himself whether Mr. Bonhoff, with his close affinity with fuel cell technology, is the right person for the policy department,” explained lobby control climate expert Christina Deckwirth.
Hydrogen is considered an important building block in the energy transition. However, since the production requires a lot of green electricity, many experts do not see the technology as a suitable means for the millions of cars in this country, since “filling up” directly with green electricity is more efficient. Instead, hydrogen should primarily make industries such as steel production more climate-friendly.