"Protest against lignite mining in Germany", 22 Aug 2014

Activists from several countries will try to form an eight kilometre human chain between Kerkwitz in Germany and Grabice in Poland...The initiative is targeting plans to expand lignite mining in the region. Vattenfall has announced its ambition to extend two existing open cast mines: Nochten and Welzow-Süd. The federal states of Brandenburg and Saxony have approved the plans and Vattenfall presently continues to work with the permission processes...Wolfgand Rolland, Head of Business Communication Mining and Generation, reiterates Vattenfall's firm conviction to be a partner in the German energy turnaround... "Vattenfall is investing heavily in renewable energy production in Germany. Last week we announced the decision to construct the Sandbank offshore wind farm in the German North Sea together with Stadtwerke München." However lignite will be crucial to meet the German electricity demand. It is also considered a reliable partner to volatile renewable energy sources since lignite can be used to balance load according to Rolland.