US electric carmaker Tesla has rejected allegations of causing ecological damage around its major production site near Berlin, in particular with respect to water consumption and the felling of woodland.
The Gigafactory's water consumption came in at 2.28 cubic metres of water per vehicle, against an industry average of 3.68 cubic metres, Tesla manager Rohan Patel posted on X on Thursday.
"We recycle up to 100% of our industrial water. We have over 8 MW of installed solar capacity and source renewable electricity," Patel said.
A German media report last month pointed to phosphorus levels in waste water above the permissible limit. Tesla responded that concentrations were higher because the factory in Grünheide was saving water.
A report on Thursday by Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel said that Tesla had consumed 451,654 cubic metres of water over the past year, well under the amount agreed with the local water authority.
Water is a major point of conflict, as the factory lies partly in a water conservation area. Tesla aims to increase production, but without consuming more water. It also plans to extend the production site, although a majority of Grünheide residents have indicated their opposition.
Production at the huge factory was halted by an arson attack on an electricity pylon on Tuesday, with a shutdown set to continue to the end of next week.
Leftist activists in the Volcano Group claimed responsibility, accusing Tesla of polluting groundwater and consuming huge quantities of scarce drinking water.
The factory has a staff complement of around 12,500. Patel listed a string of benefits – both ecological and social – that the Gigafactory was bringing to the region.
