The Christian Union in the Provincial Council is seriously concerned about the – now well-filled – gas storage facility at Langelo/Norg. Minister Rob Jetten of Climate and Energy reported today that the gas storage is 85 percent full.
With the current energy crisis, caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine, the cabinet wants as much gas as possible in stock, in case a severe winter comes or Russia turns off the gas tap to Europe even further.
But with 85 percent fill, and possibly more later, Norg/Langelo will be used more intensively. According to CU party chair Bernadette van den Berg, more gas in – and a lot of gas out in winter – causes pressure differences and may increase the risk of vibrations or earthquakes. “At the same time, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the settlement of damage caused by gas storage,” she writes to the Provincial Executive.
She wants to know from the provincial government whether the Ministry of Economic Affairs and NAM are paying attention to the prevention of damage, now that gas storage will be used much more intensively. Claims handling also needs to be better regulated. Van den Berg is referring to the so-called ‘reverse burden of proof’ that also applies to the Groningen field. In addition, people with damage to their home do not have to demonstrate that the damage is caused by a vibration or earthquake as a result of mining.
Van den Berg wants to know whether the provincial government will take action towards the ministry. In any case, Van den Berg has Commissioner Tjisse Stelpstra (also ChristenUnie) on her side, who wants that reversed burden of proof back as soon as possible for the environment of the Norg/Langelo gas storage facility.
The Noordenveld municipality previously announced that it was not in favor of further increasing gas storage. In mid-May, the municipality, together with the municipalities of Aa and Hunze, Tynaarlo, Westerkwartier and the province of Drenthe, therefore sent a letter to State Secretary Vijlbrief of Economic Affairs. 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 says in a response that the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is authorized to have the gas storage fully filled. In that case, six 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.”