They sued successfully against the water supply of the new Tesla factory. But now the nature conservationists from NABU are saving the start of the car factory. Brandenburg’s environmental agency also ensures the water supply for local residents.
Office and NABU each got half right from the administrative court: The environmental assessment of the Eggersdorf waterworks near the Tesla factory was error-free, the judges ruled on Friday. And: There is sufficient groundwater for residents and industry.
But: The lawyers also found that the approval of the waterworks is illegal and “not enforceable” due to a formal error. Tesla was threatened with the water stop – and 60,000 waterworks customers too.
On Monday, Brandenburg’s Environment Minister Axel Vogel (65, Greens) consulted with his lawyers. Then he announced “that his office will tolerate the continued operation of the Eggersdorf waterworks until further notice in the amount of 2,518,000 cubic meters per year”.
This is the current amount. For Tesla, the office wanted to allow 1.2 million square meters more in the future.
The Nature Conservation Union wants to go even further. “We will probably appeal,” said managing director Christiane Schröder (41) to BZ
The water stop ruling would then be “pending ineffective” until the Higher Administrative Court makes a decision.
Means: Tesla could start production in March!
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Schröder assures: “We don’t want to prevent the car factory or force a dismantling. We just want to make sure the plant is run with the least possible impact on nature and water balance.”
And: Before a new process, the environmental agency will correct its formal error – and approve more water from other wells.