Tennet calls for improved protection of critical infrastructure

Tennet Germany, the country’s largest power grid operator, is calling for enhanced cooperation with security authorities to protect critical infrastructure from various threats, including cyberattacks, espionage, and drone surveillance. Kathrin Günther, Chief Transformation Officer at Tennet, emphasized the need for clear responsibilities and faster reporting chains, noting that current delays in police response often allow drones to move past monitored areas. She also advocated for a unified national regulation for drone defense to avoid a patchwork of different state-level laws and requested relaxed data protection rules to allow for more extensive camera surveillance of facility perimeters.

In a related security context, concerns have been raised regarding hybrid threats in Germany. While the federal government has warned of Russian hybrid provocations following drone incidents, critics argue that certain policy decisions may increase vulnerability. Specifically, the federal government’s support for Russian involvement via Rosatom in a fuel element factory in Lingen has drawn criticism from environmental groups and security advocates. They warn that such cooperation could facilitate espionage, sabotage, and other hybrid tactics, including the potential for smuggling explosives or cyber interference.