The German energy company RWE is to seek compensation from the climate activists who occupied the “lignite village” Lützerath. A spokesman told local newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that all occupiers can expect a lawsuit for delaying the expansion of the lignite mine.
RWE is still investigating the extent of the damage suffered as a result of the occupation, so it is not yet clear how large the compensation should be. According to the energy giant, the activists not only slowed down the excavation of the lignite mine but also damaged the company’s property, such as vehicles, equipment, wells and power plants. For example, at one point activists occupied an excavator and a freight railway.
Demonstration
The occupiers had taken Lützerath, near Roermond, because they did not agree that the village should give way to lignite mining. They consider it irresponsible to pull even more fossil fuels out of the ground in the midst of a climate crisis. About 15,000 people took part in a large demonstration against the lignite mine last week, according to German police.
Last week the police managed to liberate the village within days and remove all activists from the site, which is owned by RWE.
Source: BNR
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