German officials are concerned with Poland’s plan as it imposes ecological impacts

(MENAFN) German officials and environmental groups have strongly criticized Poland’s plans to exploit a newly discovered oil and gas field in the Baltic Sea, citing serious concerns over ecological and tourism impacts, according to local media reports.

The Wolin East deposit—announced Monday by Canadian firm Central European Petroleum (CEP), which has held exploration rights off Poland’s western coast since 2017—is being hailed as Poland’s largest hydrocarbon find and one of Europe’s biggest in the past decade. Located just 6 kilometers from the port of Swinoujscie, near the Polish-German border, the site lies off a shared island known in Germany as Usedom, a popular tourist destination.

CEP estimates the field holds more than 33 million tons of oil and 27 billion cubic meters of gas, with production potential exceeding 400 million barrels of oil equivalent.

However, German authorities are pushing back. Till Backhaus, Environment Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, warned the project contradicts the “environmental and tourism interests of the German side” and accused Warsaw of failing to inform Berlin in advance—potentially breaching cross-border environmental agreements.

Additional criticism came from Laura Isabelle Marisken, mayor of the German seaside resort Heringsdorf, who told Bild that the region should not become a site for “industrial-political poker games.” She called on the Polish government to provide clear information and on Berlin to defend local interests.

The environmental group Lebensraum Vorpommern went further, accusing Poland of “destroying the nature-protected Wolin Baltic Sea coast” and warning of a looming “environmental catastrophe.” The group announced plans to take legal action against the Polish government.

Concerns include damage to marine flora and fauna, as well as noise and vibrations caused by drilling activity.

MENAFN23072025000045017281ID1109836912