That report is a month and a half out of date , they are either...

That report is a month and a half out of date , they are either drilling illegally or they have the licences required , I am thinking the latter .
Given each Austrian uses around 1/2 a tonne of coal per person each year (about 4 million tonnes in Austria per year ) substituting for gas is the better option as :
the CO2 per energy unit of gas is around half that of Coal and has none of the other toxins its just stupidity for environmentalists to be against this project.
Is it better for Grandma to have a gas fireplace or keep using coal or are you just going to turn her gas or coal supply off and let her freeze to death - yes she is going to have her feet kept warm with cleaner energy ie gas !

Also the Mollen gas is domestically produced unlike the coal which is over 97% imported so also financially far more viable for Austria on a balance of payments financial perspective

There really are some nut cases out there !