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Open-pit lignite mine Welzow Süd

Glashüttenstraße
03119
Welzow, Brandenburg
Germany

The Welzow-Süd mine is one of four open-pit lignite mines still in operation in the east German region of Lusatia. Annual production is approximately 20 million tonnes of lignite. The lignite produced in Welzow-Süd has a water content of circa 56 percent. In operation since 1959, 17 villages had to be resettled to make space for the mine.

With the support of the Brandenburg state government, the operator of the mine has applied for permits to extend it. This would mean that an additional 200 million tonnes of lignite could be mined, starting in 2025, extending supply capacities of the Schwarze Pumpe power plant beyond the year 2040. If the permits were granted, more than 800 people would have to be resettled. Several NGOs including Greenpeace have filed lawsuits against the mine extension. 

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