The discussion about reversed burden of proof among damage detectors around the gas storage in Langelo is pointless. Hans Houdijk of the Mining Damage Institute Groningen (IMG) thinks so. He prefers to see reporters ‘just’ reimbursed for their damage in the future.
According to Houdijk, one should not look at ‘whether damage A is indeed earthquake damage and damage B is not’. “In principle, as far as we are concerned, you should say: where there is damage, we will compensate it.”
As far as the IMG is concerned, this applies to the entire area around gas fields and gas storage facilities. “The pieces that once fell off at Norg are also part of this. We now say: where there is setting and subsidence damage, it must be compensated.”
Houdijk advocates an ‘integrated approach’. In other words: the same rules for the entire area around the gas storage.
In doing so, the IMG meets the wish of the parliamentary committee of inquiry to simplify claims handling and to treat claim reporters more generously. The Mining Damage Institute Groningen asks politicians in The Hague for ‘more powers’, so that damage can be handled more easily.
Houdijk says that the foundations of houses should be looked at in the area around the gas storage. “Where necessary, they must be strengthened,” he says. A big task, he realizes. “But you have to do it. If you build on something that is fragile, you will continue to have trouble.”
Wisse Hummel, chairman of the Temporary Working Group for Mining Damage One (TWME), is ‘cautiously positive’ about Houdijk’s words. “I hear them say that they also think that they are stuck in a strange situation that they would like to get out of,” says Hummel.
He continues: “As it seems now, they are going back to the previous situation where – if you live within a certain distance of the gas storage – you can easily report damage. We as TWME have always advocated a return to that situation.”
The IMG will also look not only at vibrations in the event of damage, but also at soil movements. “That’s good news, because a lot is happening underground here.”
Still, Hummel remains cautious. “The implementation must of course still be made concrete. This is an advice from the IMG, whether it will be implemented is still the question. Before you know it you will be saddled with hope and no answer.”