Hearing in the state parliament: further dispute over lignite relocation

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Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - The planned resettlement of five villages in the Rhenish district for open-cast lignite mining continues to cause controversy in NRW's energy policy.

In a state parliament hearing on the NRW key decision on lignite, the BUND environmental association called the resettlement plans at the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine unnecessary and irresponsible.

RWE, on the other hand, emphasized the need for energy policy to reduce the number by 2038. Agreements have already been reached with around 85 percent of the residents in the villages to be relocated.

The key decision is the legal basis for future lignite mining in NRW.

By December 1, citizens, municipalities and associations had given their opinion on a draft of the black and yellow state government.

The approximately 500 suggestions are now being evaluated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said a spokeswoman.

Some municipalities had asked for an extension of the deadline and submitted their comments.

The state government intends to adopt a final version in spring 2021.

The draft is based on the extraction of 600 million tons of lignite at the Garzweiler opencast mine.

But this completely ignores the expected market development, criticized the BUND: Because of the more stringent EU climate targets, lignite will in future be burdened with significantly higher CO2 taxes and thus more expensive.

That will significantly reduce the need for coal extraction - it will make relocation of the villages unnecessary.

For climate reasons, the BUND calls for an exit from coal-fired power generation in 2030 instead of 2038.

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RWE underlined that the need for Garzweiler was clearly stated in the coal compromise and in the state draft.

This requirement applies until the end of 2038, a later revision is possible - but it relates at most to an early phase-out to the end of 2035. When dismantling, RWE will initially use the localities in which the resettlement should already be completed according to the plans.

With its decommissioning path, the state draft makes a significant contribution to climate protection, RWE emphasized: By 2025, lignite capacities would only be switched off nationwide in the Rhenish mining district.

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Statement by RWE Power AG

BUND statement