Dear Groningers, you have a wonderful negotiating position: take advantage of this!

Protest sign along the A7 near the municipality of Slochteren. This area was the first to drill for gas. According to the protesters, this started the misery for Groningen.Statue Harry Cock / de Volkskrant

Wellbeing

I have lived throughout the Netherlands, in at least six provinces, for a long time in the Randstad. Since 1992 I have completely found my craft in Groningen and also in the most beautiful village in the Netherlands, Winsum. The space is fantastic, the people too. But I have seen so much misery from gas extraction in the province. Misery that is far from being solved due to the slow processing of claims. Personal dramas. but also dramas for the quality of life. Because entrepreneurs and care organizations are withdrawing. The quality of life has come under enormous pressure.

Promises have been made by The Hague, but they turn out to be worth nothing. The moment the Netherlands needs more gas for the country itself and for export, it is apparently legitimate to exploit the province of Groningen and its inhabitants as a winning region again. Groningen is out of the picture in The Hague anyway. For example, the pediatric cardiology center in the UMCG will be closed. Apparently, the well-being of residents in the province of Groningen is of no importance. I have completely lost faith in politics.

Ine Berkelmans, Winsum

Power

In a dictatorship they shoot bullets at their own citizens, from The Hague they shoot with power. This decision is very shocking.

John den Besten, South Beijerland

Pump up

As a simple citizen of the Netherlands, I am amazed at how the people of Groningen are treated. If all Groningen residents are asked or offered: the state will buy your house, or the state will make sure that the damage is paid, or your house will be made earthquake-proof.

At these gas prices, plus the still existing stock of gas, one year is enough to pay for everything. Then another pain point has been removed.

Huub Zandvliet, Aalsmeer

energy transition

Stef Blok’s announcement to temporarily increase natural gas production in Groningen in 2022 has understandably led to a lot of commotion and commotion in Groningen. The most intriguing thing about this whole discussion is the question whether, with the knowledge of today, Eric Wiebes should have decided at all in 2018, which has been remarkably confirmed in the new coalition agreement, to phase out gas extraction.

In economic terms, this is almost tantamount to suicide. At the peak of gas prices, the Netherlands is phasing out its gas production. Which economist is making this up or has been sleeping? A government is in the interest of all Dutch people, and wouldn’t it make economic sense to continue gas extraction in Groningen?

The benefits are many. The Netherlands provides for its own gas needs for as long as necessary in the energy transition, and does not make itself dependent on the whims of dictator Putin for its energy needs. The proceeds for the Dutch state go into a fund, not with an empty promise but with the explicit guarantee that all current and future damage in Groningen (tangible, depreciation, intangible) will be generously and effectively compensated by the Groningen Mining Damage Institute. The rest is only used to (partly) finance the energy transition to a hydrogen economy.

Of course there is also bad news. The coalition agreement, whose ink has not yet dried, must be broken open. And the new Minister of Economic Affairs, Micky Adriaansens, has to go to Groningen, in a kind of Den Uyl paradox, to explain that gas extraction is not being phased out, but reopened. And there may be even more bad news for the people of Groningen. I remind them that the collapse of the Het Loon shopping center in Heerlen in December 2011 was partly due to the coal mines, the last of which was closed in 1974…

Hans Moonen, Utrecht

Benefit

The moment was striking. Drop a bomb on the separation from the market. Outgoing minister Stef Blok immediately saddles his successor with a very painful policy measure. Twice as much natural gas is required than would be produced. Despite all the failures, apologies and promises, the government still does not know how to act adequately here.

At the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the new minister Micky Adriaansens, they can probably calculate very well how much the additional yield will be from those extra gas revenues. They can immediately pay that windfall to the natural gas victims. Then the new minister does not have to start talking again in Groningen.

Ben van Tol, Hengelo (Overijssel)

Notification

‘Groningers are angry’, can be read in the media, in response to Minister Blok’s announcement that more gas is needed from Groningen. A more adequate opening sentence would be: Minister Blok does not keep to agreements. Notification makes the difference.

Tilly Soder, Warffum

Compensate

Dear Groningers, Mr Paas: you are angry and disappointed, but you really should have known this. There are good reasons for still extracting extra gas for some time. In addition to the high price that we all now have to pay for gas (including people from Groningen), there is now extra demand from Germany, the winter can just start and it is expected that the (impending) robbery of Ukraine will cause extra demand.

Now if you know all that, turn your problem into an opportunity. Don’t keep simmering, but demand from Rutte that he will finally compensate you generously and super fast. Makes you and your homes much stronger. You have a great negotiating position: exploit it! I wrote it in this paper three months ago. Only heard firm language from Paas cs then, and where are you now? Empty hands! Fill them up.

Lei Bodelier, Zandvoort

Germany

Minister Stef Blok will have enjoyed reading Gerard Smals’ letter in Saturday’s newspaper (Opinion, 8/1). Blok has apparently succeeded in turning the image around in such a way that Germany is blamed for turning the gas tap in Groningen back on. That’s not the whole story, however. The Netherlands itself is guilty of this. For example, the construction of the nitrogen factory to convert high-calorific gas for Dutch (and German) use has been delayed. Blok also failed to build up a stock of gas in the summer, as was advised. Of course Blok does not like that story to tell and so he points to Germany.

Marcel Glass, Zoutelande

European rules

Due to European rules, the Netherlands cannot refuse to supply natural gas to Germany this winter. Isn’t it about time that the settlement of earthquake damage in Groningen also fall under European rules?

Pierre Daanen, Amsterdam

Solution

The new cabinet can immediately get to work with simple solutions. More gas from Groningen soil? Faster recovery of damaged houses? Less bureaucracy? Solution?

From now on, all government earnings from gas will not go to The Hague but to Groningen. That money will be deposited in a fund called ‘Gronings Herstel’, together with all the other money that has already been reserved in jars. Management by the king’s commissioner and major mayors. Benefits on the recommendation of the municipality (Construction and Housing Supervision!) where the relevant property is located. The Hague is no longer involved. Except when negotiating with NAM about the contribution to be made to the Groningen fund.

The people in Groningen are entitled to ample and quickly awarded compensation for damage suffered. If they see that this, managed and arranged by Groningers themselves, is finally getting going, the acceptance for extra gas to be pumped will also increase.

Peter Musch, Zoetermeer

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