HEIDE (dpa-AFX) - The construction of the battery factory of the Swedish company Northvolt on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein officially began on Monday. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), together with Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther (CDU) as well as Northvolt CEO Peter Carlsson, Northvolt's Head of Germany Christofer Haux and Swedish Ambassador Veronika Wand-Danielsson symbolically pressed the start button. The foundation work for the first factory building then began.

Scholz had previously emphasized the strategic importance of investments such as the Northvolt battery factory near Heide for Germany and Europe. "Germany was, is and will remain a strong industrial country," said Scholz. "And the production of good cars will remain the backbone of our industry beyond the combustion engine." This requires battery cells made in Germany. 3,000 jobs would be created directly at Northvolt, with another 10,000 expected in the vicinity of the factory.

Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) spoke of a good day for the west coast and for Germany as an industrial location. "The start of construction in Heide shows that the transformation towards climate neutrality and growth go hand in hand if the will is there and the framework conditions are right." The construction is a beacon example of how the environmentally and climate-friendly conversion of value chains is possible.

On the edge of the factory site near Heide, which was cordoned off by the police, around 150 people with 50 tractors protested against the federal government's policy, according to police reports. When the prominent guests arrived for the symbolic start of construction, they vented their displeasure by honking their horns.

The federal and state governments are demanding around 700 million euros for the battery factory. In addition, there are possible guarantees for a further 202 million euros, which still have to be approved. Production is scheduled to start in 2026 /rakl/rgr/DP/mis