Concerns raised in Germany over Waterford Airport investor’s military ties

Concerns have been raised in Germany after Waterford Airport investor Kelcy Warren acquired a stake in a pipeline company which transfers oil to military bases.

The US billionaire, who is the founder and CEO of Energy Transfer, is widely reported to have committed €30 million to the redevelopment of Waterford Airport.

Now, German media outlet SPIEGEL is reporting that Sunoco, which is a subsidiary of Energy Transfer, has acquired “a significant portion of German energy infrastructure”.

The deal means Sunoco will control around one-fifth of Germany’s oil tank storage capacity and more than 1000 kilometres of “strategically important pipelines”.

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This includes 49 percent of a long-distance pipeline operating company previously managed by TanQuid.

The pipelines transfer oil to German and NATO military airbases, including Büchel, where American nuclear weapons are stored.

Speaking to SPIEGEL (translated from German), Jacopo Maria Pepe of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs said: “This military infrastructure is extremely important for the operational capability of the air forces.

“The fact that 49 percent of it now belongs to a US company is politically highly sensitive.”

While it was pointed out that Sunoco does not hold a majority of the NATO pipeline network, Mr Pepe believes it is still significant.

“It nevertheless has influence – also in the event of a military confrontation. Through the purchase, the US gains information about capacities and vulnerabilities in the system.

“Should repairs be required due to wear and tear or sabotage, the US could block them.”

Such concerns have long been raised with the German government, who conducted a lengthy review to determine whether the deal could endanger German security.

On January 9, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said that an “approval subject to conditions” was granted.

The ministry added that the deal would guarantee “the continuous supply of the TanQuid Group’s tank storage capacities”.

The German green party, Die Grünen, have long warned about the possible security implications of the takeover.

Their Energy Policy Spokesman, Michael Kellner, said last summer: “At the moment, unfortunately, we cannot rely on transatlantic friendship. The facilities should be in German or European hands, especially given the behaviour of the Trump administration.”

Meanwhile, Nina Noelle of Greenpeace said: “The German government should never have approved this deal.

“It is placing critical energy infrastructure in the hands of a fossil-fuel US corporation and ignoring all legitimate security and climate policy concerns.”

In January, The Irish Independent reported that Warren is the mystery investor behind the €30 million plan to extend Waterford Airport’s runway.

The newspaper added that the deal to formalise Mr Warren’s investment is nearing completion.

It will see the new Waterford Airport company and its assets come under the control of the US billionaire. Mr Warren, who hails from Texas, has an estimated net worth of €6 billion.