Tesla’s Berlin gigafactory faces the wrath of environmentalists

Tesla’s plans to construct a gigafactory near Berlin have hit yet another snag as German environmental groups filed an objection to the provisional permit for its construction.

The groups’ lawyers said that the official objection was filed against the permit from Brandenburg environmental authority. The lawyers claim that Tesla hasn’t detailed the precautions it will take to prevent the leakage of poisonous gases. 

Tesla put in the official application to manufacture Tesla’s new 4680 cells at the Berlin Gigafactory on June 4. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk announced the massive electric car plant in Germany in November 2019. In July 2020, Musk tweeted, “Giga Berlin will come together at an impossible-seeming speed.”

The $4.9 billion plants are situated 24 miles east of Berlin in Grünheide, Germany. The company is facing the ire of environmentalists who oppose the cutting of hundreds of acres of trees, the plant’s large water needs, and the disruption of bat and animal habitats. Germany’s biggest labor union, IG Metall is scrutinizing the project for a possible violation of labor laws during construction. The plant may also be fined for installing sewer pipes without permission.

The objection filed by the groups, Gruene Liga and NABU, stated that Tesla had changed its application documents to produce battery cells on the premise but hadn’t obtained the necessary permit for the same.

The environmental groups said they would go to court if the state authorities fail to file for a permit suspension by June 16.

Apart from Berlin, Tesla is reportedly planning to deploy these full-scale battery cell factories at the Texas and China Gigafactory projects too.

Inputs from Reuters

Picture Credits: Tesla