Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Syria: Local sources report that General Security forces targeted the camp of French fighters from the 'al-Ghuraba division' in the Idlib countryside with mortar and tank shells.
Syria: Local sources report a general military mobilization of foreign fighters in Idlib following armed clashes in the “French Camp” in the Idlib countryside.
Syria: Local sources report that International Coalition forces carried out an airdrop operation on a house in the village of al-Kassar, eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
Local sources: 3 killed, 7 injured in attack on transport bus in Idlib countryside, Syria
The 'French faction' in Idlib announces that Syrian security forces are preparing to attack its camp amid accusations that it is collaborating with ISIS.
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria
Syrian Observatory: US cargo plane lands with two military helicopters at Kharab al-Jir base in the countryside of Rmeilan, north of Hasakah
Miguel Díaz-Canel to Gustavo Petro: US seeks to reimpose the Monroe Doctrine in its relations with sovereign states in Latin America and the Caribbean.

'Green'-oriented Germany to demolish village for coal mine

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 Apr 2022 09:43
  • 3 Shares
2 Min Read

A village in western Germany will be bulldozed to make way for a coal mine.

  • x
  • A small earth wall separates the tiny village of Lutzerath from the enormous diggers operating in the lignite coal mines
    A small earth wall separates the tiny village of Lutzerath from the enormous diggers operating in the lignite coal mines.

A village in western Germany will be demolished to make way for a coal mine, despite Berlin accelerating its plans to go green.

The impending bulldozing of the pastoral village of Lutzerath is currently raising questions about a German law that is said to be outdated and that prioritizes extractive industries over green policies. These practices highlight the challenges a country dependent on coal will face as it attempts to pivot away from fossil fuels.

Wiebke Witt, a German campaigner with civil society organization Europe Beyond Coal, said the anachronistic German law says that lignite mines that supply coal power plants serve the public interest.

“This definitely needs to change, because we are seeing that it’s not in the public interest to burn coal. It’s the opposite. It’s the worst energy resource that we have in Germany for the climate in terms of carbon emissions,” she added.

Related News

Coal mine explosion in Iran, at least 30 killed

Polish coal miners protest EU's anti-methane regulations in Warsaw

Transitioning 

The village of Lutzerath, which sits at the edge of an open-pit coal mine, isn't the only village in the area that's been threatened by the increase in mining, as homes, highways, and historical landmarks have been demolished in the interest of lignite-mining facilities.

Lignite is a type of wet coal used mostly to generate electricity and is the only coal Germany still produces. Hard coal was phased out from Germany in 2018 and is now imported from countries like Russia, which accounted for half of Germany's imports until the war in Ukraine.

Germany made the decision at the end of 2021 to shut down three of its nuclear power plants, as part of a plan to phase out nuclear energy. The move reduced the country's power output by four gigatons. Germany intends to phase out nuclear energy entirely by the end of 2022 and plans to increase renewable energy production. 

However, until renewables are ramped up, Berlin will rely on fossil fuels to fill the void left by the nuclear exit. 

Last week, Germany's Cabinet approved a draft legislation that would accelerate the expansion of renewable energy. According to the bill, renewable energy should generate 80% of the country's energy needs by 2030.

  • Germany
  • Coal
  • coal mine
  • mining

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli settler stands over a woman who was harvesting olives after assaulting her, October 19, 2025 (social media)
Politics

West Bank sees 757 Israeli settler attacks in one year

The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a screen showing part of the company website in this photo taken on Nov. 21, 2023 (AP)
Technology

OpenAI unveils new search browser built around chatGPT

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, from right, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth listen as President Donald Trump meets in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, October 20, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

‘Your mom’ politics take over Trump administration

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem during a public address on October 21, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon stability depends on ending Israeli aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS