Photo Gallery Addicted to Coal
Swedish energy giant Vattenfall dominates economic and social life in the Lausitz region of eastern Germany. Now it wants to expand its coal mining operations there -- and opposition to the plans is being drowned out by the company's overbearing importance to the local economy.
The scale of Vattenfall's operations in the Lausitz region of eastern Germany is vast. Pictured here are mining operations at the Jänschwalde opencast coal mine.
Foto: Z1022 Patrick Pleul/ dpa
Cooling towers spew steam into the air. The Swedish energy company is pressing ahead with ambitious expansion plans for its mines in the region.
Foto: Patrick Pleul/ picture alliance / dpa
Vattenfall dominates life in the Lausitz, both economically and socially, and that makes it difficult for opponents of the plans to make their voices heard. Here, Greenpeace activists block a railway line in the town of Welzow.
Foto: Patrick Pleul/ dpa
Berliners will vote on Nov. 3 on whether to bring the city's power grid, currently run by Vattenfall, back into public ownership. It's a decision that could have a big impact on the Swedish company.
Foto: Ole Spata/ dpa
Dieser Beitrag stammt aus dem SPIEGEL-Archiv. Warum ist das wichtig?
