Gas shortage in Germany re-ignites fracking debate

Fracking debate: Weil fires back against Söder - "Is it still going on?!"

Political reaction to Markus Söder

As the Bavarian Minister President proposes to test fracking methods, there is a storm of criticism from SPD and Greens. Among them is Stephan Weil, Minister President of Lower Saxony.

Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil has reacted indignantly to the advice of his Bavarian counterpart Markus Söder to examine the use of fracking gas in northern Germany. "Is it still going on?!", the SPD politician asked via Twitter after corresponding remarks by the CSU leader. "Dear Markus Söder, how about wind power in Bavaria at last?", Weil added in criticism in the direction of the Bavarian Premier.

Söder wants fracking to be examined

Söder had raised the issue of using domestic gas reserves in the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" newspaper in view of the energy shortage resulting from the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. "Nobody wants yesterday's fracking. However, it makes sense to check whether there are new and environmentally compatible methods," said the leader of the CSU.

According to experts, there are large natural gas fields especially in Lower Saxony.

Lower Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs and CDU top candidate for the State Parliamentary elections on 9 October, Bernd Althusmann, however, had expressed his opposition to fracking a few days ago and referred to the current legal ban. Fracking, which is currently banned in Germany, involves extracting gas or oil from rock strata with the help of pressure and chemicals, which poses risks to the environment.

Markus Söder wants to check whether gas extraction through fracking would be possible in Germany. The technology of fracking is controversial because of possible environmental impacts.

Green Party leader, Nouripour criticises Söder

There was also criticism of Söder from Green Party leader, Omid Nouripour. He told the newspapers of the Bavarian Media Group: "Markus Söder is the at the centre of the problems of energy supply in Germany and has severely slowed down the expansion of renewables in Bavaria. In 2020, just three new wind turbines were approved in Bavaria. This is not going to work with the energy transition."

At the same time, the nuclear debate is being pushed by those who have always been against the nuclear phase-out and thus against the pacification of a decades-long dispute, Nouripour said. "When it comes to specific matters, the CSU ducks away from the final storage question, but at the same time wants to accept new nuclear waste with the continued operation of the nuclear power plants." Another reason why there must be no extension of the operating life," said Nouripour.

Incidentally, it is precisely the CDU/CSU that has led us into this fatal dependence on Putin.

"Phoney debate" about fracking and nuclear power

On the question of gas extraction from the German North Sea, he said: "To plunge back into the use of fossil fuels would be a big mistake. In the short term, we need to get through the next one or two winters until we become independent of Putin. The same goes for fracking." In addition to the discussion about extending the operating lives of nuclear power plants, the question of fracking is another "sham debate".

Nouripour, like Economics Minister, Robert Habeck (Greens), referred to a second, far-reaching stress test currently underway to check whether there could be a power shortage in winter. "If there is a need for improvement, we will talk about further measures based on the facts." The stress test is necessary above all because the situation in Bavaria is so tense.

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