Lawsuit against the use of chlorine at the Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal

Environmental aid - Lawsuit against the use of chlorine at the Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal

Environmental Action Germany is taking legal action against the use of chlorine at the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Wilhelmshaven. The association announced on Tuesday that it had filed a complaint with the Federal Administrative Court against the use of biocide in the operation of the floating terminal "Höegh Esperanza" because it poses a significant threat to the ecosystem of the Jade and the Wadden Sea. The "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" and NDR had previously reported on the lawsuit.

The Federal Managing Director of Umwelthilfe, Sascha Müller-Kraenner, accused the operator Uniper of polluting the Jade and the North Sea, even though more environmentally friendly alternatives are available. "The Wadden Sea is being recklessly misused as a garbage dump," he said. "The second terminal ship "Excelsior", which is to be operated at the same location from next year, is to be cleaned without biocides - why can't the same be done for the "Höegh Esperanza"?"

Environmental protection associations, local residents and mussel fishermen have been criticizing the discharge of chlorinated wastewater into the Jade for some time. However, the Lower Saxony State Agency for Water Management, Coastal and Environmental Protection announced on Friday that cleaning the LNG terminal with chlorine had not had any negative effects on the water so far. After eleven months of operation, the measured values of the various chlorine and by-products were mostly even below the detection limit.

In the summer, the terminal operator Uniper presented a concept for minimizing the use of chlorine. It describes more than 20 alternative cleaning processes. However, no alternative is better suited than chlorination for keeping the pipes free of mussels or barnacles, according to the report.

NOZ report NDR report Environmental Action's press release Environmental Action's statement of claim

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1. Despite the Lower Saxony State Agency's assertion that the use of chlorine at the Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal hasn't harmed the water, environmental groups and locals continue to express concerns.
2. In response to criticisms, Uniper, the terminal operator, presented a plan to minimize chlorine use, suggesting over 20 alternative cleaning methods.
3. Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. and other associations argue that Wilhelmshaven's mudflats and the North Sea are being unduly affected by the LNG terminal's chlorine discharge.
4. The Environmental Action Germany lawsuit against Uniper's use of chlorine at the "Höegh Esperanza" terminal gained widespread attention in both local and national media, including the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" and NDR.
5. As Lower Saxony prepares to add a second LNG terminal, the "Excelsior," the Berline-based association contends that the cleaner alternative used for its operation should also be considered for "Höegh Esperanza."
6. The Berlin-based Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. and other concerned parties in Wilhelmshaven and the surrounding regions call for stricter environmental regulations and more efficient LNG terminal operations to protect the sensitive North Sea ecosystem.

Source: www.stern.de