Germany’s economy ministry says it kept no records of gas-lobby conversations

The economy ministry’s response to a Green parliamentary question says meetings with industry representatives were not minuted, and that calls and electronic communications were not documented. It acknowledges numerous contacts but says it cannot list them, citing staff changes among its reasons.

Only two meetings between minister Katherina Reiche and industry association BDEW are identified. CORRECTIV connects the disclosure gap to a contested heating-law overhaul and the gas industry’s longstanding advocacy for green-gas blending requirements.

Transparency lawyer Philipp Schönberger disputes the ministry’s explanation: records are supposed to attach to government business, not disappear with individual employees. Climate lawyer Roda Verheyen also questions why lawmakers lacked an assessment of the law’s emissions effects before deciding.

The investigation establishes a failure of traceability. It does not prove that any particular undisclosed conversation determined the legislation, but shows why Parliament and the public cannot easily test that question.