A Dutch court has stopped the planned gas drilling in the Wadden Sea for the time being. The island of Borkum had complained about this with environmental associations. But the plans are not off the table for good.
The planned gas drilling off Borkum has been stopped for the time being. The island, together with several environmental groups, had sued a court in the Netherlands against the construction of the drilling platform. The law firm in The Hague has now prohibited the Dutch company Onedyas from starting the preparatory work.
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) describes the judgment as a “bang for the protection of the North Sea”. “The court’s decision shows that our criticism and our concerns are taken seriously and are relevant to the decision. That gives hope for the ongoing court proceedings,” Borkum’s mayor Jürgen Akkermann (independent) is quoted as saying in a DUH statement.
The drilling platform was actually supposed to be set up in April
The environmental organization had argued that the drilling platform would destroy a protected reef. So it must not be built. A final court decision is expected in September. This means that the project is not yet finally off the table, but the judgment of the lower court is a first step.
The drilling platform was actually supposed to be set up in April. The Onedyas company justified the delay by saying that there were difficulties in obtaining the drill rods. So far, there has been no comment on the court ruling.
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Bremen Zwei, news, April 25, 2023, 4 p.m