At the moment, the three coal-fired power stations in our country are only allowed to operate at a capacity of 35 percent. With this measure, Jetten wants to achieve the climate goals. As a result, our country consumes an extra 400,000 cubic meters of natural gas per hour, including from Russia. That gas will not be put in storage for next winter either. The Netherlands also compensates the (foreign) owners of coal-fired power stations for partially shutting down the power stations. Due to the enormously increased energy prices, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is taking into account a compensation amount of up to 1.5 billion euros.
VVD member Silvio Erkens says he is ‘seriously concerned whether we are well prepared for the coming winter’. “It seems that the cabinet focuses mainly on security of supply for protected users, our households, and not on the rest of the gas consumption in our economy. According to the VVD, the cabinet is taking a significant risk with this.” According to him, the cabinet should ‘not play Russian roulette with security of supply’. Earlier, CDA member Henri Bontenbal already made a plea for further coal firing. He pointed out that the climate targets are already being achieved this year because the industry has been partially shut down. However, the reopening of coal-fired power stations is extremely sensitive to D66, partly because Minister Jetten was a strong advocate of shutting down coal-fired power stations when he was a member of parliament.
‘More realism’
Because of the war in Ukraine, the largest ruling party VVD is now arguing for more realism in Jetten. “Opening the coal-fired power stations could help fill the gas storage facilities more quickly and could also enhance security of supply in the winter. I can only conclude that this difficult measure should be on the table,” says Erkens, who also says that the impact on the climate is “anything but good”.
He argues for the creation of a strategic reserve of coal, so that it is available as a ‘back-up’ option in any case. He also wants to have an emergency law prepared in which this is necessary. According to the largest government party, advice from the Mining Council should also be taken seriously and ‘stress tests’ should be introduced. Erkens wants Jetten to “take action as quickly as possible to prevent a disaster winter. The costs of additional measures are insignificant compared to the costs of a possible gas shortage this winter.”
The liberal reverts to the advice of the Mijnraad, which calls for maximum filling of the gas storage facilities. Erkens: “The cabinet still seems to assume that we have until the winter to fill the gas stocks, but I want this to happen faster. If Russia decides to stop supplying other European countries, such as Germany and Italy, with gas, it will be difficult for the Netherlands to fill the gas storage facilities. After all, there will be competition, both within Europe and with Asia for the last leftovers available LNG (liquefied gas). Speed and pragmatism are therefore important to limit the greatest risks.”