A motion has been introduced in the German Bundestag by the Green Party, aiming to halt planned natural gas exploration near Borkum and to ultimately prohibit all oil and gas drilling activities within Germany. The proposal, reported by “Der Spiegel”, seeks to compel the federal government to draft legislation amending the Federal Mining Act.
The proposed amendment would effectively prevent the issuance of any new permits for gas and oil drilling operations. Existing permits would, according to the Green Party’s motion, be valid until 2030. Furthermore, the motion calls for the cancellation of negotiations concerning a gas supply agreement with the Netherlands and the planned drilling project near Borkum.
The German cabinet recently approved a gas supply agreement with the Netherlands, paving the way for drilling activities in the North Sea. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Katherina Reiche (CDU), has stated that the agreement strengthens both the energy security of neighboring countries and the overall European gas market.
The Green Party has strongly criticized the project, with Julia Verlinden, parliamentary group deputy leader, characterizing such drilling operations as “outdated”. She argues that opposing gas exploration is an endorsement of environmental protection, climate action and safeguarding fundamental living conditions.
The passage of the Green Party’s motion in the Bundestag appears unlikely. Such a decision would require a majority vote, an outcome that would necessitate significant deviations from the established coalition comprised of the CDU, CSU and SPD.
Green Party officials have voiced concerns that the gas project symbolizes a backwards-looking energy policy approach by Minister Reiche. Specific criticism has been directed at her intention to align the expansion of solar and wind energy with the current capacity of the power grid, rather than the reverse. Andreas Audretsch, a Green Party politician, described this approach as “absurd” suggesting that Minister Reiche hasn’s grasped the importance of technological leadership in the 21st century. He warned that Germany risks becoming an “industrial museum” with a renewed focus on natural gas, particularly when compared to the actions of countries like China.
