Image: Gerhard Hütmeyer
Yesterday, the announcement of the positive nature conservation decision surrounding the search for gas in the Steyr Valley triggered very different reactions: While the applicant for a gas test drilling, the company ADX Energy, was satisfied, environmentalists were indignant. Moderate tones are coming from the black-blue state government: “The nature conservation authority has examined the applicant’s submissions and has come to the conclusion that the legal requirements for a positive decision are met,” it said yesterday from the office of nature conservation officer Manfred Haimbuchner (FP ). As is well known, the search for gas is 2.5 kilometers from the Kalkalpen National Park and just a few meters from the Jaidhaustal nature reserve.
- Read more on the topic: Commentary “Silence in the Forest”.
For the exploration company ADX Energy, this decision was the last missing piece of the puzzle. As reported, the mining permit has been in place for some time. “Depending on the ground and weather conditions, it will take up to eight weeks until the drilling site for the actual test drilling can be completed,” says ADX boss Paul Fink, who warns opponents of the drilling project “that false reports, insinuations and malicious Accusations don’t win any friends, especially not under the guise of environmental and nature conservation.”
“Upper Austria is vehemently pushing ahead with the exit from fossil fuels,” said Economics Minister Markus Achleitner (VP) in a press release. However, it is clear that Upper Austria’s industry in particular will still need energy sources such as natural gas to bridge the gap during a transition phase. “It is therefore to be welcomed that it is now being examined whether there are natural gas reserves in Upper Austria. Because the use of domestic natural gas reserves definitely makes more sense than the use of liquid gas, which is chemically fracked in the USA.”
indignation and resistance
The reactions of the opponents of the gas production project can be summarized with bewilderment and anger: the WWF speaks of a “climate policy hara-kiri project”, a completely “wrong course in Upper Austria” and a “fatal signal before the world climate conference”. Greenpeace says it is “shocked by the gas drilling permit” and is calling for a law to end oil and gas production. Legal action against the project in Molln is also being examined.
Rudi Hemetsberger, nature conservation spokesman for the Green Party, says: “The go-ahead for natural gas drilling under nature conservation law is seriously irritating.” In the Haimbuchner department, natural gas production and nature conservation are considered compatible. “We Greens expect that no measures will be taken until the decision is legally binding.”
The notice also states that a complaint can be submitted to the administrative court within four weeks. This is exactly what the environmental umbrella organization is striving for. “We will take a close look at the decision in the next few days. If the expected deficiencies under EU law are present, we will lodge a complaint with the State Administrative Court,” announced President Franz Maier. He calls on State Governor Thomas Stelzer and State Nature Conservation Councilor Manfred Haimbuchner to “stop the project immediately and finally take their responsibility towards people and nature seriously.”
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Source: Nachrichten
