- Environmental economist: Gas drilling needs to be accepted
Given the resistance to a planned gas drilling project in the municipality of Reichling near Landsberg am Lech, the environmental economist Andreas Löschel from the Ruhr University Bochum warns against proceeding without the support of the local population. "It's not just about the economic feasibility of the project. If the local acceptance is not there, it won't be worth it for companies to open up the area against the will of the citizens," he said in an interview with Bayerischer Rundfunk.
In the exploration of new gas fields in Germany, economic viability is the key factor, Löschel said, given the recent drop in gas prices.
Environmental concerns
The environmental organization Greenpeace has protested against the project by planting trees and demands an immediate halt to the project. They argue that it is the wrong path to continue relying on climate-damaging gas. Local citizen initiatives also express concerns about the safety of gas extraction.
Löschel stated that such drilling could be very safe if strict safety standards are used to prevent, for example, groundwater contamination. This includes exploration drilling and risk assessment.
Gas prices have plummeted
The Russian invasion of Ukraine had driven up gas prices and intensified the search for domestic sources. However, this trend has recently reversed, Löschel said in the Bayern 2 radio show "Die Welt am Morgen". "Gas prices have fallen significantly. There are new gas discoveries all over the world."
This trend is expected to continue, making the extraction of gas in Germany questionable. Imports are cheaper than domestic extraction. Germany imports about 90 percent of its gas, for example through newly built LNG terminals.
The company Genexco plans to start test drilling on the site in Reichling in the near future. The company suspects gas deposits at a depth of around 3,000 meters.
- Despite the potential gas deposits in Reichling, close to Landsberg on the Lech, the environmental concerns and resistance from the local population may hinder the project's success, as warned by economic expert Andreas Löschel.
- The environmental organization Greenpeace has shown its opposition to the gas drilling project in Landsberg on the Lech's Reichling by planting trees and advocating for an immediate halt, citing climate-damaging consequences.
