Ann: Environmental Milestone Reached on the Wolfsberg Project, page-102

https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20241227_OTS0047/virus-zu-lithium-prestigeprojekt-nach-so-vielen-grossen-toenen-darf-es-kein-vorbeischwindeln-an-der-uvp-geben

27.12.2024, 11:22:32

Vienna (OTS) -

As the environmental organization VIRUS has announced, together with the municipality of Deutschlandsberg and the Koralm Water Association, it has lodged an appeal against the negative EIA decision on the Koralpe lithium mining project, the appeal period ends today. Spokesman Wolfgang Rehm: "Together with our partners from the law firm Jantschgi, we have found numerous shortcomings in the decision by the state of Carinthia. After all the fuss that has been made about this project, there can be no cheating and an environmental impact assessment must be carried out.

The findings of the official expert for chemistry that the project operators had mentioned the use of hazardous auxiliary substances, in particular the toxic substance "hydrofluoric acid", which is subject to the Seveso regime, were particularly worrying. The plant overview plan indicated parts of the plant as "hydrogen fluoride scrubber", "sulphuric acid", "sodium hydroxide" and "reagent storage", "decontamination tanks" and that such substances posed a risk of contamination. There was no plausible description of the use and whereabouts of hazardous substances and the minimum requirements for technically sound assessments in the field of material flow management/chemistry were not met.

Furthermore, a hydrogeological report has shown that there are concerns about impacts on drinking water supplies, particularly on the Styrian side. "If these are not significant environmental impacts in the context of the merely required rough assessment, then I'll eat a broom," comments Rehm.The lithium mining plans in Carinthia had not been under a good star from the outset. First squandered by the Republic for a shilling, then sold on at a high price, the mining rights finally ended up with an Australian mining group. As a result, a gold-rush mood and expectations of numerous jobs in Carinthia covered up many concerns. Even Mining Minister Köstinger made herself important at the time. "It is not surprising that this has now given way to disillusionment. After all, there is no longer any talk of further processing on site, but instead it is to take place in Saudi Arabia, which incidentally contradicts the EU regulation on ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials," says Rehm


Furthermore, media reports had appeared in which there was talk of speculation and the will to wind down was questioned in general. The Financial Market Authority has apparently repeatedly put the operators on its radar and punished them. "We've been monitoring this for years because we don't want the environment to be harmed in the supposed treasure hunt - that's our job," clarifies Rehm. The image of the rich uncle from Australia, who comes with his pockets full of money to make a big deal here, began to crack when it became apparent that the project was not fully financed but that money had to be collected first or even funding sought. The fact that they also wanted to avoid an environmental impact assessment fit into this picture. Surprisingly, the Carinthian state government had complied with this request after a lengthy review. "However, this was not the last word; with our complaints, the matter will now move from the Carinthian sphere to the Federal Administrative Court, where it will be decided," concluded Rehm.