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Item Details: 11273608

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11273608

item number: 196991
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Created: January 28, 2008

Published: February 08, 2008
Weisswasser, Germany
SLUG: FO/GERMANY DATE: Downloaded email 02/06/2008 (EEL) CREDIT: Craig Whitlock/TWP Weisswasser, Germany The Nochten mine, a giant strip mine in the German state of Saxony, generates more than 100,000 tons a day of lignite, or soft brown coal. The mine was opened in 1973 under the communist East German regime. Its current owner, Vattenfall, a Swedish-based energy conglomerate, wants to expand the mine over the next two decades, which could result in the forced relocation of as many as 4,000 villagers. Despite efforts to bolster production of renewable-energy supplies -- such as solar and wind power -- Germany remains heavily dependent on dirty coal and is expected to become even more reliant on lignite in coming decades.

by: Craig Whitlock TWP