The US electric car manufacturer Tesla has to expect a fine for installing unapproved tanks on the construction site of its planned factory in Grünheide near Berlin.
Sebastian Arnold, spokesman for the Brandenburg Ministry of the Environment, said on Thursday that there were three tanks for different liquids that were erected without a permit.
The amount of the fine was initially unclear.
It's not the first offense.
There was initially no reaction from Tesla.
The construction site of Tesla's first electric car factory in Europe is well advanced, although the decision on the final environmental approval by the state of Brandenburg is pending. Originally, Tesla wanted to start production in July of this year and is now planning to do so for the end of 2021. The decision has been delayed because the company has expanded its application for the car factory to include a battery factory, among other things. However, Tesla is building through several early approvals for individual steps.
"During the on-site inspection, the State Office for the Environment (LfU) found that several tanks were erected by the developer, although there is no permit for them," said the ministry spokesman.
“The LfU is therefore preparing fine proceedings.
Commissioning the tanks is not permitted.
The LfU also checks whether further measures are necessary. "
Is there a threat of a construction freeze?
The left-wing parliamentary group in the Brandenburg state parliament considers the call for a construction freeze to be justified.
"The safety of people and nature must remain the top priority for any permits - regardless of who is building," said left-wing infrastructure politician Christian Görke.
The environmental associations of the Green League and the Brandenburg Nature Conservation Union had asked about illegal construction on the site.
They assumed a refrigerant tank.
You are taking legal action against pre-approval with tests of the functionality of systems in the paint shop, foundry and body shop.
The State Environment Agency also gave early approval for the installation of tanks for wastewater treatment and the refueling system.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, these are function tests in which only small amounts of substances that are hazardous to water and significant in the event of an accident would be used.
Therefore, the knowledge gained from a submitted accident report would not conflict with this decision.
However, the environmentalists see it differently.
The US electric car maker had also temporarily laid underground pipes on the construction site without a permit. According to earlier information from Tesla group circles, it was said that the car manufacturer had assumed that the laying of underground lines above the water table was already covered by a decision. Tesla had also initially started testing for stakes, even though there was no permit.