Accompanying studies document environmental compatibility

In view of the outstanding importance of environmental protection for the sensitive Wattenmeer ecosystem, the technologies deployed for oil production must be geared to the principle of minimal interference in ecological systems. RWE Dea as operator and its partner Wintershall are aware of their immense responsibility for the Wattenmeer tidal flats, a unique natural habitat. For this reason, incident-free crude oil production in the past 24 years has been shaped by extensive measures to prevent unintended impacts on the environment. Detailed analyses have been and are still being conducted to study the potential consequences of the operational activities on fauna and flora. Moreover, with the construction of the island in 1985, a comprehensive environmental monitoring program was put in place. Key importance is assigned to frank and factually sound discussions with the competent authorities, the National Parks Board, nature conservation and environmental associations and the municipalities.

Samples being taken for environmental compatibility test  

Safety and environmental protection enjoy top priority; this principle is entrenched in RWE Dea’s mission statement and has governed the success story of Mittelplate from the very beginning. The studies conducted by research institutes and engineering firms on the impact of oil production on the Wattenmeer ecosystem have come to the conclusion that there has been no detrimental influence of this region after the construction of Mittelplate. Mittelplate represents impressive evidence of the fact that the interests of the Wattenmeer tidal flats are compatible with production of crude oil, a vital commodity.