A sensitive blow for the fighters against the gas extraction plans of the NAM under the Wadden Sea near Ternaard. They received no support from a parliamentary majority.
In an SP motion, also signed by D66, Party for the Animals, GL-PvdA and Christian Union, MP Sandra Beckerman from Groningen called for new gas extraction near Ternaard under the Wadden Sea “not to be allowed to proceed”.
Beckerman did not obtain a majority in the vote on Tuesday in the House of Representatives. The yes voters GL-PvdA (25), NSC (20), D66 (9), BBB (7), SP (5), Party for the Animals (3), ChristenUnie (3) and Volt (2) on two votes against the no camp of, among others, PVV, VVD and CDA.
The CDA faction voted against because it was a ‘speak out’ motion, which has no consequences for the cabinet. The faction calls such motions unnecessary. The Christian Democrats previously spoke out against the new gas extraction plans at Ternaard.
BBB and NSC against drilling near Ternaard, PVV and VVD not
The voting ratios show that the forming parties have different positions in the Ternaard discussion. BBB and NSC do not want new gas extraction, PVV is not against it and the VVD has always had little objection to drilling under the Wadden Sea. According to the so-called ‘hand on the tap principle’, the government can always intervene if soil subsidence is progressing faster than expected, is the thinking within the party.
The Rutte IV cabinet announced in 2021 that it would no longer process new permits. Because the NAM application was already pending, the cabinet still has to approve it. State Secretary Hans Vijlbrief (D66, Mining) is “not in favor”, he said several times. But, he also said, “we are dealing with a permit process that has been initiated.”
In that process, nature minister Christianne van der Wal (VVD) must also be listened to. She has to grant the nature permit, and she has not yet done so. The VVD has always said in the House of Representatives that this process must first be completed carefully.
NAM wants clarity from the ministry
Due to the lack of a decision from the government, NAM went to court earlier this month. NAM wants to hear within a few weeks whether it can proceed with the drilling plans. The government wants to provide a response in the first quarter of 2024.
The NAM wants to drill for gas under the Wadden Sea near Ternaard. It has been doing this since the 1980s at Ameland, Blije, Moddergat, Lauwersoog and Vierhuizen. Because the Wadden Sea has a UNESCO World Heritage status, there are no production locations in the Wadden Sea. The NAM drills from the mainland.