Germany’s cabinet has endorsed a bilateral accord with the Netherlands that allows commercial drilling for natural gas in a protected section of the North Sea near the island of Borkum. The project, cleared on 2–3 July, targets as much as 13 billion cubic metres of recoverable gas and will be operated via Dutch infrastructure. Final ratification by the German Bundestag and Bundesrat is expected later this year. Berlin says the field could deliver a little over 4 billion m³ annually—roughly 5 % of Germany’s current gas demand—providing a domestic buffer as the country winds down imports from Russia and grapples with volatile global prices. Germany produced only 4.2 billion m³ of gas in 2024, underscoring its heavy reliance on foreign suppliers after exiting nuclear power in 2023. Environmental organisations have condemned the move because the drilling zone borders the UNESCO-listed Wadden Sea, a key habitat for migratory birds and marine life. The government argues the wells are located outside the core conservation area and are needed to safeguard energy security. The decision highlights the policy tension between Germany’s climate goals and its immediate need for reliable, affordable fuel.