Oil platform Mittelplate poses ecological risk with negligible economic benefit

Berlin – An assessment by Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has concluded that the Mittelplate oil platform in the North Sea poses significant ecological risks that are disproportionate to its economic benefits. In 2025, the oil company Harbour Energy paid approximately 45 million euros in production tax to the state of Schleswig-Holstein, representing only about 0.2 percent of the state's total revenues.

The analysis further indicates that Mittelplate's oil production accounts for merely one percent of Germany's total oil consumption. DUH also criticizes the inflated claims regarding job creation, citing the Heide refinery, which attributes all 490 of its employees to Mittelplate despite receiving only about 11 percent of its crude oil from the platform.

DUH is calling for an immediate environmental impact assessment and an immediate cessation of oil drilling operations within the Wadden Sea National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The organization argues that the potential environmental damage and risk of an oil spill are unacceptable given the minimal economic returns.

Oil production from Mittelplate decreased by approximately 4.6 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year, yielding about 861,000 tons of oil. DUH has filed a lawsuit, asserting that the ongoing extraction activities have not undergone a comprehensive environmental compatibility assessment.

The Wadden Sea is a critical habitat for seals, porpoises, and numerous bird species. The risks associated with the oil platform include operational impacts from drilling and shipping, as well as the potential for accidents. DUH emphasizes that the ecological value of this protected area far outweighs the economic significance of the Mittelplate oil extraction.