Nedmag’s salt extraction in the Peat Colonies must be phased out and new wells may not be put into use. That is the commitment of local residents and the Stop Zoutwinning Foundation from Zuidlaarderveen to the Council of State.
A salt source is extra controversial, because a leak occurred in a salt cavern at Tripscompagnie deep underground in 2018. Millions of liters of brine and diesel leaked there at the time. State Supervision of Mines previously strongly advised the ministry to no longer allow salt extraction from this well, and local residents were previously ruled in favor by the court that salt extraction from this source must be phased out.
Local resident Jakoba Gräper emphasizes this point of view once again. “We anticipate that if salt extraction and the associated land subsidence are expected to continue, we will not be left dry,” she says. “There are also problems with damage to houses as a result of salt extraction. We are only satisfied if Nedmag has to phase out salt extraction.”
Although the salt sources are located in the province of Groningen, Drenthe also experiences problems from the wells. Spokesman for the action group Stop Salt Mining Foundation Jean-Pierre Dessart previously told RTV Drenthe: “We see in the reports that there is a lack of information and that near Veendam people see such wild subsidence that the researchers simply cannot believe it.”
Researchers see that the subsidence in the area around Veendam, including the Drenthe-Groningen border, is much steeper than in other places. In theory this could have a greater effect on the damage, although this is not immediately assumed.
Local residents and the Stop Zoutwinning foundation emphasize to the Council of State that this well must absolutely be closed and that extraction from the new wells near Veendam must not continue. According to lawyer Jewan de Goede, this is not safe.
“We know from the gas extraction discussion that you have to be extremely careful with events underground,” says De Goede. “Put 9 at Tripscompagnie must be closed, the State Supervision has also said several times that it is not safe. We are satisfied if salt extraction cannot be resumed here, but my clients actually want all salt extraction to stop.”
In addition, the Council of State is discussing whether soil subsidence in the area has an influence on damage to houses and the business operations of arable farmers in the region. Local residents, supported by soil expert Dineke Pot, say yes. Nedmag and the Ministry of Economic Affairs say no.
Nedmag hopes that the Council of State will reject the requests from local residents and the Stop Zoutwinning foundation. In accordance with the ministry’s permit, the company wants to continue extracting salt until 2045. The Veendammer salt extractor points out the economic impact and employment in the region. The company, supported by the ministry, also states that it can be done safely.
After today’s session, the Council of State will consider the submitted documents in the coming period. A ruling is expected in a few months. The state judge states that the ruling is normally delivered within six weeks, but that it is already taking a longer period into account.
