Gas Extraction Off Dutch Island of Borkum: Environmentalists and Greens Up in Arms
A planned large-scale natural gas production project off the coast of the Dutch island of Borkum has ignited a fierce debate, with environmentalists and the Green Party mobilizing against the plan.
The Dutch energy company One-Dyas aims to extract natural gas on a large scale over the next ten to 35 years. However, the project has drawn fierce criticism from environmentalists and Green Party politicians.
Concerns and Arguments
Environmentalists and Green Party members argue that extracting new gas fields is incompatible with the fight against climate change. They point to the recent global agreement to phase out fossil fuels and call for investments in renewable energy instead.
Political Standoff
The responsibility for approving the project is currently unclear, with both the federal and state governments pointing fingers at each other. While the state of Lower Saxony’s environment minister opposes the project based on environmental concerns, the state’s economics minister appears more supportive.
Hope for Federal Support
The state environment minister hopes that the federal government will uphold an agreement not to issue new permits for oil and gas production in the North Sea. He argues that such an agreement is already in place.
Uncertain Future
The final decision on the permit application rests with the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology. It remains unclear when a decision will be reached.