Amicable solution found

Peat extraction in Rühlermoor ends with viable land concept

Klasmann-Deilmann has ended peat extraction in the Rühlermoor Nord area. A mediation process lasting several years with numerous landowners, the oil industry and the district of Emsland has now led to an amicable solution for the subsequent use of the land. Rewetting and subsequent agricultural use have been implemented in accordance with the official requirements.

The Rühlermoor Nord site is located between the Emsland municipality of Twist and the junction of the same name to the BAB 31 motorway. 123 hectares of agricultural land have been used by Klasmann-Deilmann since 2005 to extract black peat, which was used in particular in the food industry for growing vegetables.

The approval conditions for the extraction of raw materials originally stipulated that the land would be prepared for subsequent agricultural use after the end of the activities and made available for nature conservation and climate protection through rewetting. New drainage ditches were also stipulated. It was assumed at the time that a comprehensive land consolidation would be carried out during the term of the project and that oil extraction would be discontinued.

“However, there was no land consolidation,” explains Moritz Böcking, Managing Director of the Klasmann-Deilmann Group, ”and crude oil continues to be extracted in Rühlermoor Nord. Under these circumstances, it was not possible to implement the planned subsequent use for agriculture and nature conservation. The subsequent use of the entire area therefore had to be redeveloped, which led to complex conflicts of interest between the parties involved. The involvement of Dr. Vinzenz Bauer from the Chamber of Agriculture as a mediator and the willingness of those involved to compromise brought about an amicable solution, the result of which we can now look back on with satisfaction.”

The elongated property areas in Rühlermoor Nord extend in a fan shape from northwest to southeast. A contiguous area for rewetting and nature conservation has now been embedded in it, which is even larger than originally planned thanks to the willingness of the municipality of Twist and Niedersächsische Landgesellschaft mbH.

Solutions also had to be found for other challenges. For example, the planned trenches crossed the paths and facilities of the oil industry, and access to the agricultural land was also not regulated. There were lease agreements with Klasmann-Deilmann and parallel usage agreements with the oil industry. In many cases, the agreements contradicted each other or were unclear.

“In order to resolve the conflicts of interest, the parties involved opted for mediation,” reports Dr. Vinzenz Bauer. “We set up a committee in which the decision-makers from the district, the oil industry, the landowners and Klasmann-Deilmann came together again and again. Together, we finally reached a viable solution.”

“We were happy to accompany and support this process in a positive way and made the Twist municipality’s premises available as a central point of contact for many constructive and goal-oriented meetings,” says Mrs Petra Lübbers, Mayor of the municipality of Twist.

With regard to the future allocation and use of Rühlermoor Nord, all the details of the permits, agricultural use, nature conservation, the oil industry and the time frame were discussed and evaluated. To this end, the parties involved met in various working groups and were regularly informed of the results.

At the same time, Klasmann-Deilmann prepared the areas for nature conservation and agriculture in constant dialog with the partners in the moderation process. The final component was the redesign and implementation of the drainage system. At the end of 2023, the water law amendment permit was issued, which was approved by all parties involved. This also provided legal certainty for the ditch construction, which was approved by the district of Emsland in August 2024 as compliant with the permit. The practical work has now been completed and the successful mediation process can be brought to a close.

“Our thanks go to all those involved who contributed constructively and with a willingness to compromise to this good result,” says Moritz Böcking. “None of us achieved the maximum; we all had to give up some of our interests. But all in all, we found a mutually agreeable solution and implemented a sustainable space concept.”