Germany extends aid package for energy-intensive firms

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BERLIN — Germany economy ministry said on Saturday it was extending the deadline of a 5 billion euro ($4.98 billion) aid package for energy-intensive companies and was refining details of the program intended to help firms cope with soaring power costs.

Companies can apply until the end of September for subsidies of up to 50 million euros for their increased natural gas and electricity cost, the ministry said. The previous deadline was the end of August.

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It said Germany was working with the European Commission on extending the program period.

More than 200 firms, mostly medium-sized, companies have sent some 1,000 applications since the program started in mid-July, the ministry said, adding that the first funding tranche was paid out in early August.

($1 = 1.0039 euros) (Reporting by Christian Kraemer Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Edmund Blair)