The Norg gas storage near Langelo is more than 85 percent full. This is announced by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. On average, the gas storage facilities in the Netherlands are eighty percent full, which means that the European target for next winter has been achieved. The gas storage facilities will be further supplemented in the coming period, in order to build up a buffer for the coming winter.
Minister Rob Jetten of Climate and Energy is satisfied with the achievement of the European target. “It is good news that despite the difficult circumstances, we have managed to fill gas storage by more than 80% almost two months before the European deadline. This is all the more important as we again see Russia throttling gas supplies for political reasons. We will continue to fill the gas storage facilities in the Netherlands in the coming period so that we have a buffer for the uncertain times that Europe is facing.”
The Noordenveld municipality previously announced that it was not in favor of further increasing gas storage. In mid-May, the municipality therefore sent a letter to Minister Vijlbrief of Economic Affairs, together with the municipalities of Aa and Hunze, Tynaarlo, Westerkwartier and the province of Drenthe. In it they wrote that they do not want to work towards the maximum storage, because they want to avoid the risks of possible earthquakes.
Noordenveld mayor Klaas Smid also indicates that the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is authorized to have the gas storage fully filled. In that case, 6 billion cubic meters of gas would be stored. “There is no possibility for us to appeal against that,” says Smid. “We will continue to insist on good claims handling and monitoring in the area.”