Baltic Oil Sparks Dispute Between Poland and Germany

Poland is moving to exploit the recently discovered 'Fulin East' field in the Baltic Sea, a step Warsaw considers essential for enhancing its energy security, while facing German objections and warnings about the project's impact on the environment and regional tourism.

The field lies about six kilometers from the coastal town of Świnoujście, a location visible from the German island of Usedom. Initial estimates suggest the field holds around 22 million tons of crude oil and approximately five billion cubic meters of economically recoverable natural gas.

The discovery followed drilling operations conducted by Canadian company Central European Petroleum in July of last year, at a depth exceeding 2,500 meters.

Company CEO Rolf G. Skar described the find as a "historic moment" for Poland's energy sector.

Regular production is expected to begin between 2028 and 2029, according to statements by Poland's chief geologist, Krzysztof Galusz. The field could meet between 4% and 5% of Poland's annual oil demand, bolstering energy independence and reducing reliance on imports.

In Świnoujście, the project has sparked widespread concern over the environmental impact of extraction on marine ecosystems and the tourism sector, amid calls to preserve the region's natural character and appeal.

In Germany, a coalition of environmental and civil organizations is advocating for a ban on any new fossil fuel extraction projects in the Baltic Sea. The coalition includes branches of prominent groups such as the German Environmental Aid (BUND), the German Environmental Foundation (DUH), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the initiative "Heimat für Pommern".

An online petition calling for a halt to new projects gathered nearly 88,000 signatures by the end of July, and is scheduled to be submitted to the European Commission in September.

The organizations warn of risks including underwater noise, pollutant spills, and the potential for oil spills in protected marine areas.

Executive director of the German Environmental Foundation, Sasha Müller-Krainer, urged German governments and the European Union to act jointly to protect the Bay of Pomerania. He emphasized that exploratory drilling has not yet become an approved extraction project and must remain so, demanding a ban on any new extraction off Usedom.

As elections for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania approach, pressure is mounting on political parties to clarify their positions on the project, amid a clear conflict between Poland’s energy security interests and German environmental groups’ demands to protect the Baltic Sea.