The German government secretly created a holding company to nationalize Gazprom's subsidiary SEFE, Securing Energy for Europe, which until 2022 was called Gazprom Germania GmbH. Welt reports this.

It is noted that the holding company was created to carry out nationalization in the short term. The company's partnership agreement states that its goal is to ensure the security of supply in the energy sector. Also, the object of the company is the acquisition, maintenance, and management of the company's investments.

SEFE is currently under the care of the German Federal Network Agency. Germany's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection said it was aware of establishing such a company.

"We are aware of the existence of such a company … This was prepared in May 2022 solely as a precaution against any restructuring measures," a ministry spokeswoman said.

As reported, the Russian monopoly Gazprom ceased to control its German subsidiary on April 1. After that, Gazprom Germania was transferred to the management of the regulator.