The SP’s House of Representatives faction wants the cabinet to prevent NAM from extracting gas in Langelo. The party calls the oil company’s plan unacceptable.
The gas storage in Langelo – also known as UGS Norg – contains so-called cushion gas. This gas ensures that the ground pressure is maintained. NAM believes it can extract the cushion gas without damaging the homes of local residents. Residents of Langelo and surrounding villages are not happy about it.
Member of Parliament Sandra Beckerman of the SP has asked written questions to State Secretary Hans Vijlbrief (Mining) about the proposed gas extraction in Langelo. She wants the cabinet to put an end to NAM’s plan to put the gas field into production.
“It is undesirable, unacceptable and inappropriate. Billions have been made on storage while local residents were left with damage. The misery caused by gas extraction must be solved, not moved further and made worse.”
Martijn Kleverlaan, board member of the NAM, said this week that extracting the cushion gas is ‘good for the wallet and for the climate’. That is why the company has submitted a extraction application to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. The NAM hopes to start winning within two years. It is not yet clear how much gas NAM wants to extract from the ground.
Mayor Klaas Smid of the municipality of Noordenveld has not yet seen the substantive plan of the NAM. He states that the municipality remains critical of the plans surrounding the gas storage in Langelo. “We already spoke out against gas extraction last year. We will continue to do so.”