The debate over gas drilling near the German island of Borkum has reached a new phase as the Dutch company One-Dyas received an 18-year permit from the Lower Saxony State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology.

The drilling, planned to extract gas from a field discovered in 2017, faces significant opposition from environmental groups and political figures.

Critics, including German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Green Party leader Ricarda Lang, argue that the project threatens the UNESCO World Heritage status of the Wadden Sea and contradicts Germany's climate goals.

Despite the permit, the project requires a bilateral agreement between Germany and the Netherlands, which is pending due to ongoing legal challenges.

The German government, led by Economic Minister Robert Habeck, is cautious, awaiting court decisions before proceeding.

Environmentalists vow to continue their legal battle, emphasizing the ecological risks and minimal energy benefits of the project.