Nature and the World Around Us - Organizations seek a halt to new gas extraction projects near the Wadden Sea.
The German Environmental Aid and other environmental groups are considering taking legal action against the approval for gas exploration in the North Sea near the Wadden Sea and the island of Borkum. They plan to file a case at the highest administrative court for these matters in The Hague on Friday.
Previously, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs gave the green light for the contentious project on Wednesday, as energy company One-Dyas had abided by the environmental regulations for the construction work in line with a previous court's decision. With this approval, One-Dyas could proceed with the construction work. The company aims to achieve its goal of extracting gas this year.
Despite this approval, the opponents claim that the gas exploration near the Wadden Sea islands of Borkum and Schiermonnikoog is still illegal. The alliance, consisting of the German Environmental Aid, the city of Borkum, BUND Niedersachsen, Natuurmonumenten, and WWF, worries about potential environmental harm to the nature, marine mammals, the islands, and reefs.
Borkum's mayor, Jürgen Akkermann, requested another construction stop in a separate process, according to a statement. "For the city of Borkum, it is crucial to examine the legal validity of the decision on the new permit," said Akkermann. "We think that some issues have not been adequately dealt with."
A consortium, including One-Dyas, a Dutch company, intends to extract gas from a field off the two North Sea islands. To achieve this, a drilling platform will be built in Dutch waters approximately 23 kilometers northwest of Borkum. According to plans, the extraction will take place in both Dutch and German territorial waters, close to the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park. Protesters had previously demonstrated against the gas exploration project and filed a lawsuit in a prior procedure before a Haag administrative court.
Court ruling from 18.4. (Dutch) - One-Dyas' gas exploration projectInfo on the German planning approval procedureStatement from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs on 29.5. (Dutch)Statement from the Environmental Aid and Islands on 31.5.
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- The Raw materials extracted from the North Sea near Borkum could potentially cause environmental harm to the Wadden Sea and its surrounding areas, according to environmental organizations in Germany and the Netherlands.
- The Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. and other environmental groups are planning to challenge the German planning approval for gas exploration in The Hague, arguing that it violates environmental regulations.
- BMWi (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy) has not yet taken a stance on the gas extraction projects near the Wadden Sea, despite concerns raised by environmental groups and local authorities.
- One-Dyas, a Dutch energy company, aims to extract gas from a field off the North Sea islands of Borkum and Schiermonnikoog, but faces opposition from German and Dutch environmental groups who fear potential damage to the marine environment.
- The Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein governments have yet to formally comment on the gas exploration projects, but local authorities in Borkum have expressed concern over the potential impact on the city's environment and its inhabitants.
- Raad, a consortium of companies involved in the gas extraction project, intends to build a drilling platform approximately 23 kilometers northwest of Borkum, which would allow for the extraction of gas from both Dutch and German territorial waters.
- Protesters against gas extraction in the North Sea have previously demonstrated and filed lawsuits, with one case heard in a Haag administrative court earlier this year.
- The Netherlands government, through the Ministry of Economic Affairs, has issued approval for the gas exploration project, but opposition groups continue to call for a halt to new gas extraction projects in the Wadden Sea area, citing environmental concerns.
