Environmental aid sues Transport Ministry
HVO100 is a biofuel that is supposed to generate significantly fewer emissions. However, the German Environmental Aid (DUH) doubts this and demands information. The Transport Ministry is under pressure, as the NGO has also filed a lawsuit against Wissing's office. There is pressure on Wissing, however, also due to numerous advertising contracts for the fuel.
Due to a marketing campaign for the recently approved biofuel HVO100, the Federal Transport Ministry is already under pressure. On Tuesday, the German Environmental Aid (DUH) also filed a lawsuit against the ministry headed by Volker Wissing. In this lawsuit, they demand the release of emission measurements for this synthetic diesel. The ministry responded by rejecting the allegations.
Since late May, HVO100 has been available for purchase at gas stations in Germany. This synthetic fuel is produced from plant oils, plant and animal fats, or waste products and is supposed to have a better climate balance than conventional diesel.
During combustion, about the same amount of CO2 is released, but since this CO2 comes from renewable resources, the balance is nearly climate-neutral - only the emissions from the production of the fuel are relevant. It is assumed that CO2 reduction can be up to 90%. However, the fuel costs significantly more at the pump than conventional diesel.
The German Environmental Aid speaks of a "false solution" in this context. Environmental activists refer to "increased nitrogen oxide emissions in certain diesel vehicles" during operation with HVO100.
Transport Ministry opposes Environmental Aid
According to the DUH, the Federal Transport Ministry did not respond to repeated requests for information on emissions. In mid-June, the organization submitted a formal request based on the Federal Information Act (UIG) and demanded information by July 12. Since the ministry did not react even to the set deadline, they filed a lawsuit at the Berlin Administrative Court, the organization announced.
The Federal Transport Ministry considers the DUH's statements "unclear." "No reliable results were presented that would prove the alleged worsening of emission levels when using HVO100," the ministry stated. The DUH had only tested one vehicle, for which there was no manufacturer's approval for HVO100. Therefore, no general conclusion can be drawn from this.
The investigations of the environmental activists are also considered by the ministry to be unsuitable for "scientifically verifying emission effects of the fuel in comparison measurements."
Wissing promotes HVO100 campaign
From the perspective of the Federal Transport Ministry, "no significant emission increases are to be expected in total from the operation with HVO100." In contrast, "there is even a tendency towards a reduction of relevant emissions."
Criticism regarding HVO100 arose most recently due to the involvement of the Federal Transport Ministry in an advertising campaign for the fuel. Behind this stands the Munich association "Mobil in Deutschland." Investigations by the ZDF magazine "frontal" suggest possible violations of limits by Wissing and his state secretary Oliver Luksic. According to these reports, they were drawn into the campaign, although internal documents from the ministry's expert opinions spoke against it.
Wissing and Luksic appeared on ZDF at scheduled times, supported advertising efforts for HVO100, and met with donors. Luksic took on the patronage of the campaign but withdrew from it on Monday. Additionally, the lobby association was reportedly advertising the "possibility to meet with a minister or state secretary exclusively and exchange views" at a VIP meeting. Costs for these and other services: A "Premium Cooperation" for 9,900 Euro.
The Federal Transport Ministry rejected accusations of "unfair influence by interest groups and scheduling meetings with the management in exchange for payment." The accusations targeted the association and not the ministry. A spokesperson for the Transport Ministry stated that Luksic had requested "comprehensive clarification" in a letter to "Mobil in Deutschland" following the disclosure of ZDF's investigations. The patronage will remain suspended until the accusations are definitively cleared.
The Federal Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Digitalization, led by Volker Wissing of the FDP, is facing scrutiny due to its promotion of the biofuel HVO100. German Environmental Aid (DUH) has filed a lawsuit against the ministry, demanding the release of emission measurements for the synthetic diesel, citing concerns about CO2 emissions and nitrogen oxide emissions. Wissing and his state secretary Oliver Luksing have been accused of involvement in an advertising campaign for HVO100, which may have violated limits and involved scheduling meetings in exchange for payment, as reported by ZDF.
