RWE to implement coal compromise
Published by Claire Cuddihy,
Assistant Editor
World Coal,
At the end of the ‘Ende Gelände’ campaign weekend in the Rhenish lignite region, RWE has reached a conclusion. The company calls for the implementation of the recommendations of the Structural Change Commission, which have been available since the end of January. This will give companies, their employees and the people living in the lignite regions planning security and help to calm the social debate. The group has no sympathy for the 1300 ‘activists’ who illegally entered the Garzweiler opencast mine and occupied the tracks on the coal supply lines. In addition, there were several arson attacks on a pump station, switch cabinets and vehicles. According to the police, a number of their officers were injured during the illegal actions.
"There is a plan on the table for phasing-out coal and there is no reason to endanger people and carry out illegal actions," said Frank Weigand, CEO of RWE Power.
"We naturally respect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protests such as Fridays for Future. But it is not acceptable to deliberately break the law under the guise of climate protection. Blocking tracks and entering opencast mines is dangerous and against the law," he continued.
Despite the enormous disruption, the operation of the power plants and electricity generation were never at risk. Despite this, the company has suffered an economic loss, which is currently being determined.
RWE has previously given many warnings about the dangerous and illegal trespass into operating facilities and will always take criminal and civil action against all criminal offences in connection with any occupations and blockades that have taken place.
RWE is fully committed to climate protection targets and has spoken out in favour of rapid 1:1 implementation of the Commission's proposals for growth, structural change and employment. Between 2012 and 2018, the company reduced CO2 emissions by 60 million t, or 34%. RWE is expected to conclude the transaction with E.ON before the end of this year, making it Europe’s third-largest renewable power producer. Each year RWE will then invest 1.5 billion euros net in additional renewable energy projects.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/24062019/rwe-to-implement-coal-compromise/
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