Criticism of lignite follow-up costs - change of course demanded

Shortly before the state elections in Saxony and Brandenburg, several civil society and environmental organizations are pushing for a change of course in dealing with the follow-up costs of lignite mining in eastern Germany. In a joint statement, they call for a transparent and ecologically sustainable precautionary policy that ensures that the mining companies Leag and Mibrag meet their financial responsibilities.

Privatized profits, socialized costs?

"We must not allow costs to be socialized and profits to be privatized," wrote Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie. In June, Leag plans to announce a restructuring that will isolate the lignite division. "This step is fueling concerns about a planned insolvency of the lignite division as a "bad bank" and a shifting of long-term costs to the public purse."

The chairman of the Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND), Felix Ekardt, called for "transparent and insolvency-proof security deposits, compliance with the polluter-pays principle and holding the companies Leag and Mibrag accountable for this."

Secrecy surrounding follow-up costs

Greenpeace also warned against "secrecy surrounding the follow-up costs of lignite remediation". "The convoluted corporate structures of Leag owner and financial oligarch Daniel Kretinsky give rise to fears that the billions spent on the clean-up of opencast lignite mines will ultimately be borne by taxpayers," said energy expert Karsten Smid.

The statement was signed by several organizations - including the Green League, Greenpeace and BUND.