Gas extraction through drilling on Borkum can now commence

In a move that has sparked controversy, the Dutch energy company One-Dyas has been given the green light by the Lower Saxony State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG) to drill for natural gas in the North Sea off the coast of the German island of Borkum.

The gas extraction platform, situated approximately 20 kilometers from the island, is located in close proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Wadden Sea. This location has led to opposition from environmental organizations and some members of the Lower Saxony state government.

The immediate implementation of the gas drilling by One-Dyas is due to "overwhelming public interest in secure energy supply," as stated by the mining authority. However, concerns have been raised about the potential environmental consequences for the island of Borkum and the Wadden Sea.

Environmental organizations, including the German Environmental Aid, Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), the municipality of Borkum, and the citizens' initiative Saubere Luft Ostfriesland, have expressed their concerns. Greenpeace has also commissioned legal expertise against the project.

Last year, the permit for this drilling was initially issued by the LBEG. However, the German Environmental Aid had previously stayed the proceedings. Now, the institution is currently challenging the permit.

It is important to note that One-Dyas had already started a test phase for natural gas extraction in the Dutch sector in March. The drilling can commence immediately, according to an LBEG spokesperson.

The gas extraction near the Wadden Sea National Park has raised concerns about its potential impact on the island of Borkum and the adjacent UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed and what the future holds for this controversial project.