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Saxony Court Finalizes Expropriation for Nochten Lignite Mine Expansion

The judges said maintaining electricity from the Boxberg and Schwarze Pumpe plants serves the public interest over private and local environmental claims.

Overview

  • The Saxony Higher Administrative Court confirmed its December 10 decision as final and not subject to appeal, publishing detailed reasons on December 23.
  • LEAG can proceed with a mining-law transfer effective January 1, 2026, to take a roughly 5,000-square-meter private forest plot near Rohne leased since 2019 to an environmental group.
  • The court held that Germany’s statutory coal exit timetable is constitutional, citing Federal Constitutional Court jurisprudence.
  • It found no sufficient coal alternative for Boxberg and Schwarze Pumpe and ruled that ensuring uninterrupted power supply outweighs the landowner’s objections.
  • The Saxon mining authority had already approved the Grundabtretung after the owner refused to sell; the Nochten mine has operated since 1968 supplying the two plants.