Cottbus verliert seinen grössten Wirtschaftszweig – und gilt dennoch als «dynamischste Region Deutschlands»
Mit Milliarden an staatlichen Fördergeldern löst sich die ehemalige «Energiestadt» der DDR vom Kohlestrom. Grün und modern soll sie werden. Viele Cottbuser fragen sich aber: Was halten wir eigentlich von dieser Zukunft?
Cottbus, a city of 100,000 inhabitants in southern Brandenburg, once thrived on coal mining, earning itself the nickname "Energiestadt" in East Germany. However, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the coal industry lost its significance. In 2020, the German government announced a phased shutdown of coal power plants until 2038, providing the region with 10 billion euros in subsidies to find a new economic model.
Cottbus has invested heavily in large projects aimed at driving this economic transformation, including an innovation and science center to bring together research and startups, as well as a new medical university to train future doctors. The Deutsche Bahn is constructing the largest maintenance workshop for ICE high-speed trains in the city, creating 1,200 new jobs.
These initiatives are intended to bring a sense of hope to Cottbus residents, who now live near a lake that was once a coal mine. However, some locals remain skeptical about the region's ability to transition away from coal. Nora Baum, a financial expert who returned to Cottbus after studying in the West, believes the city is experiencing a dynamic shift, but warns that other industrial regions in Germany may not receive the same level of support.
As the city remains in the early stages of its structural transformation, Cottbus' mayor, Tobias Schick, acknowledges the challenges faced by those who once worked in the coal industry.
Written by urgent.news from NZZ Wirtschaft's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
