Environmental Group Challenges Expansion Plans for Red Bull Facility in Brandenburg
An environmental organization has initiated legal proceedings against the planned expansion of beverage production facilities operated by Red Bull and Rauch in Baruth/Mark, Brandenburg. The legal action addresses concerns over water usage linked to the development of a new canning plant and the broader production operations proposed by the companies.
The Grüne Liga Brandenburg, an environmental association, has filed an application with the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court seeking a review of the city's development plan for the project. The group has also requested a temporary suspension of the plan's implementation. The expansion, located south of Berlin in the Teltow-Fläming district, involves constructing a dedicated can production facility and increasing existing beverage manufacturing capabilities following Red Bull and Rauch's acquisition of the Urstromquelle bottling company.
A central issue raised by the environmental group is the anticipated water consumption. The companies reportedly intend to utilize up to 2.5 million cubic meters of water annually, a figure previously authorized for mineral water production by Urstromquelle. The Grüne Liga is particularly concerned that water originally approved for mineral water extraction could now be diverted for the production of canned beverages, potentially impacting local water resources.
The organization contends that municipal authorities should have factored in the region's water supply limitations during the initial planning stages. Additionally, the group has identified shortcomings in the development plan concerning species protection and the adequacy of compensatory environmental measures.
In response, Red Bull and Rauch maintain that their operations will not exceed the water usage levels previously permitted for Urstromquelle. They assert that the expansion will remain within established consumption limits and that all activities are subject to official monitoring and compliance with environmental regulations. The Federal Ministry for the Environment has indicated that the water usage associated with the expansion will undergo thorough examination by the relevant regional authorities.
The planned facility expansion is expected to increase employment at the site, with workforce numbers projected to rise from approximately 240 to 600. However, environmental advocates argue that the potential strain on the local water supply, particularly in the context of climate change and increasing demand, poses significant risks to sustainable development in the area.
Wider concerns about water consumption have also emerged in relation to other industrial developments in Brandenburg. The Tesla automotive plant in Grünheide, for example, has faced similar scrutiny over its water extraction, with permitted annual usage capped at 1.8 million cubic meters, according to recent environmental reports.
The ongoing legal case highlights the growing tension between industrial growth and environmental protection in the region. The outcome may set an important precedent regarding the evaluation and management of natural resources during large-scale industrial expansions in Brandenburg and beyond.