Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck has criticised Finnish energy firm Fortum's handling of the problems facing its German subsidiary Uniper.

In an interview with the German radio station Deutschlandfunk on Saturday, Habeck added that Fortum should participate in the recuse of the troubled gas company.

"It [Uniper] belongs to someone, someone who is solvent and can provide support. So it's right to consider models where the owners also bear an obligation," Habeck said, as reported by news agency Reuters.

In an emailed statement, Fortum Chief Executive Markus Rauram responded that the company has already given Uniper 8 billion euros in loans and guarantees.

Uniper is Germany's largest gas importer but has run into financial difficulties due to Russia's curtailment of gas exports. Earlier this week, Uniper asked the German government for a bailout.

Uniper's CEO Klaus-Dieter Maubach told a press conference on Friday that the company's losses could rise to as much as 10 billion euros this year. Fortum, which is majority-owned by the Finnish state, has a 78 percent stake in the company.

Germany's Parliament passed an Energy Security Act on Friday, which contains a number of legislative changes to the energy sector as rising prices drive an energy crisis in the country.