The Dutch energy company One-Dyas has been granted permission to extract gas in the Wadden Sea off the coast of Lower Saxony, but the plan faces strong opposition from German politicians and environmental groups. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck wants to leave the final decision to the courts, while his Green Party colleague Ricarda Lang has taken a firmer stance.
Ricarda Lang, the leader of Germany’s Green Party, has spoken out against the planned gas drilling near the North Sea island of Borkum. She stated in Berlin that the drilling would pose “a major threat to our environment” and contradict Germany’s climate goals. “Therefore, there should be no gas drilling off Borkum. We stand with the many people who are fighting to preserve our natural heritage and taking to the streets,” Lang said.
Lang further explained that the drilling would disrupt the delicate balance of the Wadden Sea and endanger the livelihoods of the entire region. She warned that this could ultimately lead to the loss of the area’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “It would be irresponsible to sacrifice environmental protection and adherence to climate goals for fossil fuel projects that contribute minimally to our energy security,” Lang added.
The regional authority in Lower Saxony granted One-Dyas an 18-year license on Wednesday for the controversial drilling project. The drilling, set to be conducted from the Netherlands, will extend under the seabed into German territory near the Wadden Sea National Park.
However, the gas extraction still requires an agreement between Germany and the Netherlands, which the German government would need to finalize. Robert Habeck, the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, has stated that he will not proceed with any agreement until courts have ruled on the lawsuits filed against the project. Environmental groups, including Environmental Action Germany (DUH), have announced further legal action against this gas project.
