Ende Gelände summer 201778

Mass civil disobedience action organised by Ende Gelände, aimed at blocking the lignite basins. More than 6,000 people took part in the action in the Rhineland and demanded the end of coal mining in Germany and worldwide.

RWE produces lignite. It is extracting approximately 100 million tonnes per year from three open mines, Hambach, India and Garzweiler. These cover about 9000 hectares, twice as large as the city of Lyon. The fuel is used in RWE's coal-fired power stations.

In order to extract lignite, fertile soils are excavated, important ecosystems are destroyed and important ecosystems are being destroyed, and all around these huge mine pumps are being installed to drain the water. Large excavators, which are about 90 m high and 200 m long, the world's largest machines, are used to attack the ground. To expand this mine, the motorway will be diverted a few kilometres. If you consider that a kilometre of new motorway costs 10 million euros, then this mine must be profitable for RWE.

One tonne of CO2 is emitted per tonne of burned coal. Despite the German energy source, coal still accounts for 40% of the country's electricity production. The mines are in use until at least 2045.

Germany has eleven active lignite mines. It is one of the world's largest producers of this type of coal. In total, according to the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs, the open mines in Germany cover 170 000 hectares.