The Czech Republic is finalising its application to the tender for the construction of Volkswagen’s gigafactory – a facility that produces batteries for electric vehicles on a large scale – but the government faces resistance from local communities, including surrounding villages.
Volkswagen wants to build a gigafactory in central Europe and the Czech Republic is among the bidders. The Czech government is seeking to build the factory on the site of the military airport near Pilsen, in western Bohemia.
“The gigafactory project will significantly help us in our efforts to prepare the Czech automotive industry for the changes that await it with the advent of electromobility,” Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela said on Wednesday when the project was discussed at the government level.
According to the minister, the project will bring new technologies, jobs and stable revenues to the state budget. Moreover, the development of the whole Pilsen Region and strengthening trade and transport cooperation between the Czech Republic and Germany is expected. “It is, therefore a crucial project,” the minister added.
However, the project faces criticism from local authorities and communities. The realisation of the gigafactory project would lead to the removal of a local airport.
According to local workers, there are 20,000 domestic and international flights annually, and flight schools and emergency services operate there. The city of Pilsen and surrounding municipalities are also against the airport’s closure.
In December 2022, the president of the Czech Aviation Association organised a demonstration in Pilsen against the planned gigafactory.
In case of a successful bid, the production of batteries in the Czech Republic could start in 2027. The factory could employ up to 4,000 people and the government sees it as a project of strategic importance. The Ministry is currently negotiating with local municipalities to convince them about the necessity of the project.
(Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)
Source: euractiv.com
