Oil and gas spaces in front of Usedom: Environment Minister warns of disaster!

Oil and gas spaces in front of Usedom: Environment Minister warns of disaster!

Schwerin, Deutschland - Today you could almost think that the Baltic Sea is the new hotspot for oil and gas finds. In front of the Polish coast, visible from Ahlbeck, monstrous occurrences were discovered-and that causes a lot of excitement, especially in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The Canadian company Central European Petroleum (CEP) has registered an estimated 200 million barrel oil equivalent in the Wolin East support area, just six kilometers from Swinoujscie. This could cover up to five percent of the annual oil requirement of Poland, which is reflected in a value of around 28 billion euros if you look at the current oil price of around 70 euros per barrel. But not everyone sees that as a reason to be happy.

political concerns and environmental issues

Environment Minister Till Backhaus from Schwerin is anything but enthusiastic. He sees the plans of oil and gas funding as climate policy backwards. "We have enormous concerns here, especially considering the possible consequences for nature and tourism," emphasizes Backhaus. There are already initial indications of noise and vibration loads that could occur during the exploration holes. How do the ministers want to tackle the matter? "A clear attitude of the federal government is necessary," says Backhaus. Finally, the trial drilling was carried out last year without official information on Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania-this contradicts an agreement to be crossed by border.

Especially the mayor of Heringsdorf, Laura Isabelle Marisken, comments concerned about the potential damage for nature, water and the climate. A citizens' initiative is already fighting against the project, which in the opinion of many the environmental issues does not adequately take into account. This could result in a longer legal dispute, because environmental associations also face such projects.

The situation on site

in Heringsdorf, the discovery of the drilling tower caused excitement. The local authorities were not informed about the project, which causes additional resentment. With a drilling depth of 2,715 meters in an area with only ten meters of water depth, the concerns of the residents are well known. "We don't want our nature's irreversible destruction," emphasizes the mayor.

Rolf G. Skaar from CEP described the find as a "historical moment" for Poland's energy sector. But many do not feel addressed by this euphoria. The capacities could be mobilized in three to four years, which calls on some citizens and environmental associations. If you complain against these measures, there could be other turns in this story.

insights into other conflicts

Let's look at similar conflicts in the world: In the Okavango Delta in Namibia there is another, also controversial oil and gas conflict. Here, too, environmental protection and local livelihood are at stake. German environmental aid and other organizations are calling for a moratorium for these projects and insists on transparent environmental impact assessments-headlines that indicate similar challenges in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. While part of the world is interested in economic profits, another part is fighting for the preservation of nature.

In this sense, the discussions about oil and gas production off the coast of Usedom are only at the beginning and the next steps are negotiated at the political table. Only time can show whether the arguments of the environmentalists and concerned citizens are heard or whether the economic interest ultimately wins.

For more detailed information that shed light on the background, you will find the reports from stern.de and ndr .