Even though the construction of Tesla’s so-called Gigafactory in Grünheide, Brandenburg, seems to be progressing at breakneck speed, CEO Elon Musk is currently having to overcome one or two stumbling blocks. Now the environmental agency has once again halted further construction – at least for the time being. The company is first to deposit 100 million euros before construction work can continue.
Stop and go
And there is already another break at the construction site for Tesla’s Gigafactory. In Grünheide, the company has now had to initiate a forced shutdown. Why? Tesla forgot to deposit a so-called security deposit. This is said to total the proud sum of 100 million euros. Only when the electric car manufacturer has made up for the payment can it continue. The deadline for the payment is due to expire at the beginning of January.
Environmental concerns over forest clearing
It seems out of character for Tesla’s huge construction site in Grünheide near Berlin. After all, Tesla boss Elon Musk has been taking plenty of credit since construction began, as the building project has been progressing at an astonishing pace. For some time now, however, there have been some problems. The reason for this is the request for more space for the Gigafactory as well as the corresponding infrastructure. In particular, the forest clearing and the installation of the machines in the paint shop are causing the authorities a great deal of bellyache. As has now become known, the Brandenburg State Environmental Agency has demanded a security deposit of 100 million euros as a result of the concerns. At least, that’s how it reads in the notice dated December 17, 2020.
Security deposit has no alternative
Tesla will have no choice but to deposit the money. Otherwise, there will be further standstill in the clearing of the forest as well as the assembly of the machines. Only after payment is made, the car manufacturer will get back its partial permits. Tesla has two options when it comes to paying the security deposit. Firstly, the company can pay into the country’s account in the traditional way. Alternatively, passive payment by directly enforceable guarantee is also possible. The original deadline for payment of the security deposit expired on December 17. As has now become known, Tesla’s lawyer asked for an extension of the payment deadline on December 16. The reason for this is said to have been that the large sum could not be raised within the deadline. The request for a deadline extension was granted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Now the popular e-car manufacturer must organize the security deposit by January 4. Otherwise, further work is not possible. But not only that. If the deadline expires again, the office will withdraw the two partial permits for clearing and mechanical engineering.
Rapid construction project
The most amazing thing about Tesla’s Gigafactory is probably the sheer construction speed at which the manufacturing halls are going up in Brandenburg. Above all, the contrast with nearby large-scale projects like the notorious BER seems laughable in this face. The electric car company started construction in early 2020. Elon Musk made it clear from the beginning that the construction work should not take long. Thus, he set the ambitious goal of wanting to produce the first vehicles in the Gigafactory as early as summer 2021.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMb0ZGMTa84
Accordingly, there is immense time pressure on everyone involved right from the start. Another curious fact is that Tesla still does not have a real building permit for its large-scale project. The only basis are preliminary approvals whose legal effectiveness is not yet set in stone. The financial risks that Tesla is taking with the construction of the factory are all the greater. If, in the final analysis, the Environmental Agency does not grant the building permit at all, Tesla will have to bite the bullet and return the affected site in Grünheide to the state it was in before construction began.
Forest clearing stopped by court
It is not only the State Environmental Agency in Brandenburg that has something against the construction of the Gigafactory. On top of that, many environmental activists have also been campaigning for an immediate halt to construction since it began. The reason for this is obvious. For example, 170 hectares of forest will have to be cleared for construction alone. In this regard, however, Tesla has emphasized from the beginning that it wants to ensure appropriate reforestation elsewhere in order to work as environmentally friendly as possible. Part of the clearing is already part of a lawsuit before the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg. In particular, this involves a forest area of 82.2 hectares in size. The action is based on urgent applications that reached the court from various environmental associations, such as the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu). As a result, the tree cutting work has been stopped for the time being.
Region itself is positive
But there is also good news. First and foremost, the immediate surroundings of the Gigafactory under construction are fully convinced of the project. This is quite understandable. After all, the state of Brandenburg in general and the region around Grünheide in particular have a big fish on the hook with Tesla. This should provide an economic upswing in the region and create a lot of jobs. Accordingly, the responsible municipality of Grünheide recently approved a development plan that guarantees Tesla a personal connection to the highway for its huge factory.
