The report causes distress for the mayors of five affected municipalities – Ehrenhausen an der Weinstraße, Gamlitz, Gabersdorf, Sankt Veit in southern Styria and Straß in Styria – as well as for the municipal supervisory authorities: It is regarding NGS Naturgas GmbH and the Leibnitzerfeld-Süd sewage association ( AWV). More than ten years ago, a biogas plant for processing sewage sludge was planned, built and financed with millions in grants and loans. However, according to the RH report, there were no returns.
The test was started last year at the request of members of the Styrian state parliament. Content from the raw version had caused a stir weeks ago. The finished report was published on Tuesday under the direction of Director Heinz Drobesch: Numerous deficiencies and errors found are presented on 204 pages.
Full operation “never possible”.
The Court of Auditors summed up the audit report as “under an ill star” that the construction and operation of the biogas plant was not under a lucky star: “Investments have been made for the construction of this plant since 2011, also with subsidies at federal and state level. However, due to the technical complexity of the process, permanent full operation of the plant was never possible. As a result, massive liabilities of 18.7 million euros piled up.”
The AWV was the builder together with another company. Together with the subsidiary NGS Naturgas GmbH, they built the plant for recycling sewage sludge. “But this project never went into full operation. From January 1, 2011, the wastewater association was the sole shareholder in NGS – ten years later, due to NGS’s overindebtedness, this company was merged into the wastewater association, which also meant that all liabilities were transferred to it,” according to the Court of Auditors.
Significant burden on communities
The founding, the operation and the current conversion of the NGS resulted in additional expenses for the waste water association. The costs had to and still have to be borne by the members of the association, i.e. the five communities. All of this led to higher fees in the municipalities.
Due to the universal legal succession, the loans taken out for and by the NGS are now also to be covered by the waste water association. “Thus, for the time being, the repayment of the debt has to be carried out entirely by the member municipalities,” said the state audit office, which sees the municipalities coming up with considerable burdens.
Opposition calls for resignations and liability
The Styrian FPÖ calls for a special state parliament to deal with the “financial disaster”, as do the Greens. Lambert Schönleitner (Greens) also calls for the resignation of the five mayors of the communities affected. State Councilor Ursula Lackner (SPÖ) must also hand over the environmental agenda, said Schönleitner. A complete reorganization of the municipal supervision is necessary.
“Neither inadequate bookkeeping nor a lack of technical feasibility prevented the state of Styria from subsidizing the natural gas plant in the millions. It needs full clarification and transparency!” says NEOS club chairman Niko Swatek, who adds another demand: “As long as politicians do not experience any consequences for their actions, tax money will continue to be thrown out the window. Political liability is finally needed.”
