Enlarge image
Tesla boss Elon Musk in Grünheide (archive image)
Photo: ODD ANDERSEN / AFP
In view of the Tesla plans for a battery factory on the factory site of the US electric car manufacturer in Brandenburg, the responsible water association Strausberg-Erkner (WSE) warns of risks for the groundwater. "Our concern is that in the event of incidents, especially in the planned battery factory, contamination of the groundwater cannot be ruled out," said association chief André Bähler to the "Handelsblatt". "The consequences for the protected drinking water would be inconceivable." Bähler demands that the dangers for the groundwater from the planned battery factory be assessed in an expert opinion.
"In addition, Tesla should give clear assurances of the measures that will be taken to protect the groundwater in the event of incidents," Bähler said. "If Tesla cannot comprehensibly control the water risks associated with battery production, it would be advisable not to issue approval for this in the first place, after all, we are in the drinking water protection zone." would be produced elsewhere.
The responsible water association WSE is responsible for supplying Tesla with water. The factory will be built in a drinking water protection area. "That is why Tesla's water consumption should not be taken lightly," said Bähler. This applies above all to the company itself. "Statements like Elon Musk's, that you are not in a desert in Grünheide, are out of place and do not do justice to the explosive nature of the subject."
The WSE boss had already made it clear in the spring that with the guaranteed amount of water for the Tesla plant of 1.4 million cubic meters, the reserves on site were exhausted.
"It cannot be ruled out that in peak load situations there will be supply bottlenecks for all network users," said Bähler.
Since Tesla is still planning battery cell production on the site, there could be problems.
"If the company needs more than the agreed amount of water, we will not be able to meet this additional demand without expanding our capacities first," warned Bähler.
ssu
