Enlarge image
Borkum Island: Gas is to be promoted nearby in the future
Photo: Ingo Wagner/dpa
Against the background of Russia's war of aggression against the Ukraine, the state of Lower Saxony has spoken out in favor of natural gas production on the edge of the Wadden Sea in the border area with the Netherlands.
The state parliament in Hanover on Thursday with the votes of the government factions SPD and CDU as well as the FDP withdrew a contrary decision from autumn.
The Greens refused.
As recently as October 2021, parliament had rejected funding near the island of Borkum due to environmental concerns.
The Dutch company One-Dyas wants to produce there, the gas field extends to both Dutch and German sovereign waters.
The federal government has no responsibility in this case, it lies with the state.
Subsidy from 2024 is now considered possible. The size of the gas field is estimated at up to 60 billion cubic meters.
Annual German consumption is around 90 billion cubic meters.
Economics Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU) referred to the changed situation since Russia invaded Ukraine in February: "We have known since February 24 that we have to completely rethink the issue of energy supply security and revise old views," he said.
One-Dyas can also promote in the Dutch part anyway, the Wadden Sea World Heritage remains untouched.
The gas promoted from German territory will also be supplied to the German market.
Germany still produces around five percent of its natural gas consumption itself. Around 35 percent comes from Russia.
According to the federal government, you will still be dependent on Russian gas until 2024.
fdi/Reuters