E-car production contaminates groundwater - Tesla about to stop production?
The American electric car manufacturer Tesla appears to be entering stormy waters. The Gigafactory in Grünheide, Brandenburg, is under massive fire. The accusation: excessive pollutant discharges into the groundwater. There is great concern about the quality of the groundwater and people in the region are deeply unsettled.
There have been concerns about the water shortage in Brandenburg since the Tesla settlement began. Now the situation appears to be getting worse. An investigation by "Stern" revealed that Tesla has already been discharging far too much phosphorus and nitrogen into the groundwater for two years - allegedly six times more than permitted. This has prompted the Straußberg-Erkner water board (WSE) to turn off Tesla's water supply - a step that could lead to another production stop at the Gigafactory.
But what does this mean for the people in Grünheide and the surrounding area? On the one hand, excessive pollutant inputs could contaminate the groundwater and affect the quality of the drinking water. Secondly, a production stop at the Gigafactory could have considerable economic consequences, as jobs would be jeopardised.
Even if Stephan Natz, press spokesman for Berliner Wasserbetriebe, emphasises that these nutrients have no impact on the quality of Berlin's drinking water, the concern remains. It also raises serious questions about the company's responsibility for the environment.
Tesla has responded to the allegations by emphasising that the company has its own wastewater treatment plants, which enable the complete recovery of process wastewater. Nevertheless, the question remains as to why no measures were apparently taken despite the obvious violations of limit values.
In addition to the environmental concerns, Tesla has also been criticised for the working conditions in the factory. There are reports of high workloads, high sickness rates and accidents.
The company is therefore at a critical point. The residents of Grünheide have already spoken out against the planned expansion of the factory in a public consultation. The current dispute over the contamination of the groundwater could further turn public opinion against the company.
The Tesla Gigafactory in Grünheide is therefore facing major challenges. How will the company respond to the serious allegations and what measures will it take to minimise the environmental impact and win back the trust of the public?