Brandenburg Invests in Industry After Coal Phase-Out

In Brandenburg, Germany, a facility for train and freight car maintenance is under construction with 2.75 million euros in funding from the federal and state governments. The region is adapting to the end of coal mining by 2038, and officials believe focusing on industrial infrastructure is proving more effective than the approach in neighboring Saxony.

The Brandenburg Technical University is training engineers and cooperating with start-ups, supported by a 16 million euro center for structural change. A massive wind turbine, nearly as tall as the Berlin Television Tower, is also being built in the Lausitz region. However, the university notes it relies on attracting skilled workers from outside the area due to a low birth rate in surrounding counties.

Saxony, in contrast, has allocated nearly one billion euros to projects that are not yet visibly benefiting residents. Mayors there are calling for “visible projects” to build confidence in the transition, as some planned infrastructure improvements still await funding approval. The future remains uncertain for coal workers as the region shifts away from fossil fuels.