In the Basel municipality of Muttenz, the population is fighting against the plans to ensure the extraction of salt for the next 50 years. 6200 persons in a Petition for a land line that is located a few Hundred meters from the cultivation area to be deleted from the concession area. Critics worry about noise pollution and damage to the environment. Especially farmers are up in arms because the area of arable land degradation, according to the salt never will be as before.
Should be supported, the one by loudspeakers from the Basel Canton Parliament, contrary to the recommendation of your Commission, and the 50-year period of the Concession, decline to renew, then a huge salt gap threatens to Switzerland from the year 2025. “The failure of which would correspond to the Swiss requirement of ten years,” warns the managing Director of Swiss saltworks, Urs Hofmeier. The annual production is between 400’000 and 600’000 tons, which corresponds to an annual turnover of 60 to 120 million Swiss francs.
4.5 million tons of salt would be out of the country all of a sudden. As a result, the degree of self-sufficiency would drop to half. “I’m not just talking about table salt,” says Hofmeier, “but also of de-icing salt for the road maintenance in the Winter, the regenerating salt for machines, but also of salt for animals in agriculture, as well as commercial and industrial salts.”
No Alternative
After the salt-works had been suspended last spring, the boreholes for the Muttenzer project, they took this month exploring to work again. In fact, there are salt production in the Rütihard no domestic Alternative. Other locations in Arisdorf BL or Ajoie Jura would need to be developed during the many years yet to come. “From one day to the other no salt can win,” says Hofmeier. Therefore, there is no Plan B.
In about 300 meters depth to be won “with important information on local Geology and salt deposits,” says Hofmeier. The holes run in three-shift operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, underlining the urgency of the project.
No problems in the salt flats with the land owner. The citizens of municipality of Muttenz behind the project, not least because they benefited from the strong. During the concession period of 20 years, you can expect revenue of around 1 Million Swiss francs.
public Relations neglected
the owner of the salt pans are next to the Principality of Liechtenstein, the 26 Swiss cantons. Unlike in Austria, the trade in salt in Switzerland is not free. The cantons have a monopoly. Until 1973, the sale of Salt beyond the cantonal border was even banned.
Probably as a result of this monopoly, the salt flats have been neglected over the years, your public Relations. “We considered many of our services as a matter of course,” admits Hofmeier today. He tried, therefore, Missed catching up to do, and refers to the environmental value of home-produced salt.
About half of the salt is now transported on railway wagons, nondescript holes are inhabited by bees, 80 percent of the packaging is also made from recyclable Material, and in the last ten years has been in the production of the water consumption by 40 percent sites is reduced. Thanks to mobile Silos a half a Million 25-Liter can be saved-salt bags.
Environmental benefits
In a study that will be presented next week, will also be demonstrated, the ecological advantage of local production. Mainly because of the transport, the CO2 footprint increases otherwise solid. 19 kilograms of CO2 per ton of salt in Switzerland, compared to 31 kg for a production in Germany, and 73 kg in Tunisia.
The Basel countries municipality of Muttenz, not for the first Time against the domestic salt production. Already in 1836, when salt deposits were found, you could not agree with the former salt works owners to compensation. The entrepreneur therefore went to the neighboring municipality of BL Pratteln, in order to liberate Switzerland for good by imports from abroad.
Even 183 years later, remained in Muttenz, the aversion to the white Gold, although in 1968, the salt removal in the municipality is starting yet.
(editing Tamedia)
Created: 29.01.2019, 06:04 PM