Environment ministry moves to ban gas drilling in Germany’s marine protected areas

Germany’s environment ministry has proposed banning oil and natural gas drilling in marine protected areas along the country’s coast, reported Tagesspiegel Background. Exceptions to marine protection rules would only be allowed for the “exploration and extraction of sand and gravel,” meaning that the extraction of all other mineral resources, including oil and gas, would be prohibited, Tagesspiegel said. However, in cases deemed to be “of overriding public interest”, exceptions could still be granted. The draft law is currently being debated among government ministries and could be decided by cabinet next week, according to the news service.

Environment minister Carsten Schneider had promised to present the law reform when the government cleared an agreement with the Netherlands to allow joint gas extraction in the North Sea in July. The focus is on a controversial gas project off the island of Borkum, which is located under the seabed in both countries. The extraction platform is located on the Dutch side of the border and is set to be exploited by the Dutch company One Dyas. Court rulings had temporarily halted progress on the project, and climate activists and NGOs continue to protest and fight against it in court.

Domestic production of fossil gas plays only a minor role in Germany's supply, which is mainly made up of imports from Norway, the US and other countries. Germany covers around five percent of its gas demand from domestic supplies, which have been falling since the early 2000s. New gas projects are unlikely to significantly alter the share of domestic production in total gas supply.