NRW鈥檚 state government pushes forward on coal mining in Hambach Forest
The government of Germany鈥檚 most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), has affirmed its intention to continue felling the Hambach Forest to make way for a highly controversial lignite mine in the west German region, Christian Wernicke reports for the S眉ddeutsche Zeitung. 鈥淟ignite mining in the Rhine area continues to be necessary,鈥� NRW鈥檚 economy minister Andreas Pinkwart (FDP) said. During a debate in the state parliament, the Green Party called on conservative premier Armin Laschet to arbitrate between anti-coal mining protesters who have been occupying the forest for several years, and the mining company RWE, which also operates the region鈥檚 lignite-fuelled power plants. Earlier this week, a court ordered that the clearing of trees in the forest must be stopped until a pending lawsuit had been decided. The current CDU-FDP government, as well as the formerly governing SPD, are in favour of continuing mining activities in the region, Wernicke writes.
Read the article in German .
See the 威力彩玩法 factsheet Coal in Germany for more information.