To pay for the plans to improve the damage and reinforcement operation, the cabinet is allocating 680 million euros. State Secretary Hans Vijlbrief (D66) writes this to the House of Representatives.
This means that ‘underlying defects’ that cause damage to return must be addressed. ‘These could be defects in the foundation of a building’, writes Vijlbrief. The IMG is still working on a method for this type of damage repair. In addition, the spiritual counselors in the earthquake area also receive extra money.
The spring memorandum published today shows that the government expects the damage and reinforcement operation to be at least 1.3 billion euros more expensive. The revised estimate thus amounts to 9.6 billion euros up to and including 2028. The reinforcement operation must be completed in that year.
That extra money must ultimately be borne by NAM. Earlier this year it became clear that the NAM is earmarking an extra 1.4 billion euros to compensate for the earthquake damage in Groningen.
The gas extraction company and the government are arguing about the earthquake bill. NAM has filed an arbitration case about the amount of that account. The company did not pay in full a number of bills under protest and subsequent invoices. State Secretary Vijlbrief wants NAM to pay the costs ‘to the last cent’.