K+S: Werra salt discharge and Monte Kali
- Researchers Expert opinion reported by hessenschau: Salinisation around Monte Kali is worse than expected. hessenschau
The potash company K+S discharges saline wastewater into the Werra river in Germany and is seeking a permit to continue until 2039. It also holds a salt heap of about 150 million tonnes at Monte Kali.
As stated in the record held; the company calls it an "eternity task".
Status As of 2024: K+S is seeking a permit to discharge into the Werra from 2028 to 2039; no decision is recorded.
- K+S — Holds a permit to discharge into the Werra and seeks one to 2039; operates the Herfa-Neurode repository. Börse Online (dpa-AFX)
- Werra river and surroundings of Monte Kali — Expert opinion found salinisation worse than expected. hessenschau
What happened
K+S discharges saline wastewater into the Werra river in Germany under a permit from the state of Hesse that covers 2022 to 2027. Börse Online (dpa-AFX) reported in 2024 that the company had withdrawn its promise to stop discharging after 2028 and was seeking a permit for 2028 to 2039.
The Monte Kali salt heap holds about 150 million tonnes. A 2022 hessenschau report said an expert opinion found the salinisation around the heap to be worse than expected. The company itself describes the heap as an "eternity task".
A case over the underground injection of 9.5 million cubic metres of saline water between 2015 and 2021 was time-barred. The injection ended in 2021.
K+S also operates the Herfa-Neurode underground repository in emptied potash galleries. By 2011 it held 2.8 million tonnes of hazardous waste, including filter dusts from incineration, and about 30% of it came from abroad.
- 2011Herfa-Neurode holds 2.8 million tonnes of hazardous waste by this year
- 2015Underground injection of saline water, later the subject of a time-barred case, begins (2015–2021)
- 2021Underground injection of saline water ends
- 2022Werra discharge permit period begins (2022–2027); expert opinion on Monte Kali salinisation reported
- 2024K+S withdraws its promise to stop discharging after 2028 and seeks a permit for 2028–2039
What was said
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Salinisation around Monte Kali is worse than expected.
hessenschauHow it looked
Shown
Recorded
- Werra discharge permit covers 2022–2027; K+S withdrew its promise to stop after 2028 and seeks a permit for 2028–2039.
- Monte Kali: about 150 million tonnes; an expert opinion found salinisation worse than expected.
- Case over injection of 9.5 million m3 of saline water time-barred; injection ended in 2021.
- Herfa-Neurode: 2.8 million tonnes of hazardous waste buried by 2011, about 30% from abroad.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- K+S (2024): Seeks a permit to continue discharging into the Werra from 2028 to 2039, having withdrawn its earlier promise to stop after 2028. · Börse Online (dpa-AFX)
- K+S (2022): Describes the Monte Kali heap, about 150 million tonnes, as an "eternity task". · hessenschau
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- Time-barredCase over underground injection of saline waterNot stated in the record held · unknown · Not stated in the record held → K+S
A case concerning the underground injection of 9.5 million cubic metres of saline water between 2015 and 2021 was time-barred. Injection ended in 2021. taz
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
- Disputed Is the salinisation around Monte Kali greater than expected?
Record
- Unclear No ruling on the injection case: it was time-barred, so no finding on the merits is recorded.
- None on record No decision on the permit for 2028–2039 is recorded in the sources held.
Did the harm stop?
Underground injection of saline water ended in 2021; discharge into the Werra continues under permit and an extension to 2039 is sought.
Who paid?
Not determined in the record held.
Sources
Press and investigations
- K+S will weiter Abwasser in die Werra einleitenBörse Online (dpa-AFX) · 2024
- Versalzung um 'Monte Kali' laut Gutachten schlimmer als gedachthessenschau · 2022
- Razzia beim Kalikonzern K+Staz · 2015-2021
Connected cases
- Herfa-Neurode underground store buried 2.8 million tonnes of hazardous waste Germany · 2012
- K+S (Company) — here: Potash producer; discharge permit holder; operator of Herfa-Neurode; there: operator of the Herfa-Neurode store, named in narrative text but not in the Hesse source