Zoom Image

Tesla's information event for the plans in Brandenburg

Photo: Jens Kalaene / dpa

Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) considers the US electric car manufacturer Tesla to be a positive example of water use in the factory in Grünheide. What he finds remarkable about the application for approval for the planned expansion of the plant in Grünheide is "that there will be no additional water requirements," said Woidke in Eberswalde. Tesla is planning almost one hundred percent water recycling in the industrial sector. "This makes Tesla an example for other companies as well." Brandenburg has been suffering from increased drought for several years.

Tesla wants to expand its electric car plant in Grünheide in Brandenburg. The goal is to double the production capacity from 500,000 cars that have not yet been reached to one million cars per year. 22,500 employees are planned for the expansion of production. Tesla is submitting applications for an environmental permit to the state of Brandenburg in three parts. Around 11,000 employees currently work there and produce around 250,000 vehicles a year.

Woidke pointed out that Tesla, as a large industrial company, wants to invest again and create jobs. "That's why it's a good sign for us as a state, but also for Germany."

However, conservationists and environmentalists have concerns because part of the site is located in the water protection area.

Tesla does not want to increase water consumption when expanding its plant in Grünheide, Brandenburg, but has instead committed to treating the 1.4 million cubic meters of water that the company has a license to use. The water is then to be returned to the cycle. Tesla particularly emphasizes water recycling because criticism from environmentalists of the interventions in nature and the environment had severely delayed the construction of the plant.

Conservationists are not yet convinced. "We will certainly raise an objection to this," announced Chrstiane Schröder, managing director of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) Brandenburg. The environmental association does not give too much to the promise of a stronger circular economy. "We'll wait and see if this will actually be implemented."

czl/dpa