Overview
- At least 200,000 liters of crude oil escaped near Gramzow/Zehnebeck, shooting roughly 25 meters into the air and leading to treatment of two people by emergency services.
- PCK reports the accident likely stemmed from preparatory work for a planned safety test and rules out deliberate interference; initial assessments judge groundwater contamination unlikely because oil pooled on saturated fields.
- About 100 firefighters and 25 PCK staff deployed heavy equipment and suction trucks, cleanup continues into Thursday, and Brandenburg environment minister Hanka Mittelstädt is visiting the site.
- Federal coalition leaders agreed to classify key transport and rail projects as of overriding public interest to speed approvals, plan to send an Infrastructure Future Act to the cabinet next week, and propose curbs on environmental lawsuits and lighter reviews for regional rail segments up to 60 kilometers, drawing criticism from green groups.
- The coalition will replace the contested heating law with a technology‑open building modernization framework, with policy outlines due by late January 2026 and a decision targeted by the end of February, while disputes over the 65 percent renewables requirement remain.
- Following the Nov. 29 Gießen protest, Hesse’s interior minister ordered a comprehensive after‑action review with extensive video analysis, more than 50 injured police officers were reported, multiple complaints including alleged police bodily harm are under investigation, and press‑access concerns are being addressed.