Overview

• Energieprojekt Lech Kinsau 1 GmbH has requested a two-year extension of its exploration permit to September 2027, citing delays in approvals and rig setup.
• The municipal council of Reichling unanimously reaffirmed its 2024 decision rejecting the project and will submit a formal statement opposing the extension.
• The drilling rig and containment infrastructure have been installed and test drilling is slated to begin imminently despite no fixed start date.
• Residents backed by Greenpeace Bayern plan further protests over fears of groundwater contamination and conflicts with Germany’s climate commitments.
• Germany imports 96 percent of its gas and relies almost entirely on domestic production in Lower Saxony, making the Bavarian exploration project highly unusual.