Germany warns energy companies of threat from sabotage, cyberattacks

Germany's domestic intelligence agency has warned the country's energy companies to take preventive measures to ward off sabotage, foreign interference and cyberattacks.

In a security advisory sent to trade associations and public authorities on Thursday, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution highlighted three potential threats.

The first was attacks on energy infrastructure motivated by left-wing extremism, as occurred in Berlin in January.

"Violent left-wing extremist actors will continue to target energy infrastructure," the agency warned. As the main pillars of what is perceived as a "repressive capitalist system," energy companies are a particular focus, deemed to be particularly responsible for global warming.

These are "clearly declared to be targets of criminal offences," the advisory said.

Next, the agency warned of cyberattacks by foreign intelligence services and hacktivists aimed at disrupting supply and undermining confidence in the state.

To illustrate potential risks from Russian state actors, the advisory referenced malware attacks in Poland. A group known as "Berserk Bear" primarily targets companies in the energy, water, IT and telecommunications sectors.

"Russia possesses the capabilities and the will to direct such activities against EU member states and NATO allies," the agency argued.

Last year, isolated "low-threshold attack attempts" originating from there were detected, including reconnaissance activities by Berserk Bear.

And finally, the office cautioned against one-sided economic and technological dependencies on other countries, which could one day be exploited to exert pressure in situations of political conflict.

Foreign investors in critical infrastructure projects may appear unproblematic at first glance, but could over the long term "endanger public safety and order and curtail the strategic options available to German foreign and security policy."