Gas drilling is being resumed near Ammer Lake - Oil extraction resumes nearby Ammersee
Natural Gas Test Drilling Begins in Bavaria's Reichling Community
A significant event is unfolding near Lake Ammer in the Bavarian community of Reichling, as a test drilling for natural gas commenced in August 2025 [1]. This development has sparked protests from climate activists, including Luisa Neubauer, reflecting local concerns about potential environmental impacts.
The test drilling is part of an ambitious project by the Energieprojekt Lech Kinsau 1 GmbH, a company based in Düsseldorf, primarily focused on opening an access route to a suspected gas storage site [1]. The drilling project, initially exploratory, aims to extract natural gas over a period of ten to fifteen years, if successful.
The local community's active engagement and concerns are evident in the protests, as they fear disruptions to the natural landscape, potential threats to Lake Ammer's water quality, and broader climate implications associated with fossil fuel extraction [1]. However, specific environmental impact assessments or detailed reports of the drilling’s effects on the local ecosystem or community health have not been explicitly documented in the available search results.
The project's regulatory status, mitigation measures, and responses from the drilling company or local government are not yet clear from the current data, suggesting that the project is at a preliminary exploratory stage rather than full-scale production [1].
It's important to note that Bavaria's history with natural gas drilling dates back to the 1950s, during which approximately 60 gas fields were discovered. However, many of these have since been depleted. The only gas that has been extracted so far is from the Inzenham-West deposit near Rosenheim [1].
In the 1970s, Bavaria could cover about 30% of its gas demand from domestic deposits, but now, it's only 0.1%. This shift underscores the reliance on imports for Germany's natural gas needs. According to Gas and Hydrogen Economy e.V., 96% of Germany's natural gas demand is covered by imports [1].
The drilling project's legality has been a topic of debate, with Greenpeace and the Bund Naturschutz presenting a legal opinion that contradicts the position of Bavarian Minister of Economics Hubert Aiwanger [1]. In 2024, 4.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas were extracted in Germany, with over 98% of this coming from Lower Saxony [1].
As the test drilling continues, the community in Reichling and the wider public will be closely watching the developments, hoping for transparency and assurances about the project's potential environmental and social impacts.
[1] Source: Various online news articles and press releases.
- The ongoing energy policy debate in the Reichling community, Bavaria, is intensifying due to the commencement of natural gas test drilling, with concerns raised about potential environmental impacts on the local ecosystem and Lake Ammer's water quality.
- As the local government and the energy company, Energieprojekt Lech Kinsau 1 GmbH, deliberate on the regulatory status, mitigation measures, and responses to these concerns, sports enthusiasts in the community may ponder the importance of robust community policies to secure a sustainable future for their region, beyond just energy policy.
