Red ink over green dreams

A foundry in the Ore Mountains, in Loessnitz, Germany. Four years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent energy prices soaring, the conflict in Iran is posing another challenge to efforts of reviving European factories. — Andreas Meichsner/The New York Times

MAX Jankowsky represents the third generation of his family to run a foundry in eastern Germany, but he is worried that history might end with him.

The foundry, GL Giesserei Loessnitz, makes metal presses used by automakers like Volkswagen and BMW. It consumes vast amounts of electricity, natural gas and coke, a coal-based fuel.