Scepticism over adequacy of funds for post-coal clean-up raises concern

Germany's Council of State Governments (Bundesrat) has expressed fears that lignite mine operators have not set aside enough money to cover the future costs of decommissioning, demolishing, and renaturing mined land, spurring more widespread concern, particularly among Green Party politicians, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports. Lignite mine operators also fear their liabilities could be comparable to those of nuclear power plant operators, the article says. RWE has set aside money for clean-up and restoration but warned against making its obligations to do so stricter. “This would mean that we would no longer be able to make entrepreneurial investments in renewable energies,” company spokeswoman Stefanie Schunck said. “That will harm not only RWE, but the entire energy transition,” she said.

For background, read the factsheet When will Germany finally ditch coal?