For the first time, Schoonebekers have publicly spoken out against the plans to put production water in the soil near the oil village. They did this on a visit to the city council of Coevorden.
On Tuesday evening, local politicians discussed how they view NAM’s plans. It wants to inject the polluted water into two empty gas wells on the territory of Emmen and Coevorden. In addition, the oil company mainly has to do business with State Secretary Vijlbrief, who in turn demands that the population be involved and also says that it values advice from the two municipal councils.
blind faith
The responsible aldermen previously showed understanding for what NAM wants and stated that they still have confidence in the company’s proposed approach.
She came in for considerable criticism from residents who have organized themselves against the injection in Schoonebeek. In their own words, the group consists of sixteen critics. Five of them took the opportunity to address the politicians on Tuesday.
Born and raised Schoonebeker Bob Vredeveld comes from a NAM family. He impressed on the council members that the blind faith, which he too had for a long time in the company, is no longer the right attitude as far as he is concerned. “I would like to ask you not to agree with the proposal because it is clear that this is an unreliable organization. Political decision-makers in Groningen have seriously neglected their duty of care. As a result, people are endangered. Don’t let that happen here.”
Join the conversation
According to resident Jos Bosman, NAM is only concerned with ‘earning ordinary money’. “Of course the NAM can do that, but not about my health, not about my back and not about the future of Schoonebeek.”
Fellow villager Annemarie Kruit has also lost confidence in the water injection ,,I expected that NAM had learned from mistakes in Twente and the debacle in Groningen, but I have now lost that naivety. There is no real participation, we are sent as residents.”
Patrick van den Brink, who lives near one of the two gas wells, also drew a parallel with Groningen. ,,Gas went above Groningers, oil apparently goes above Schoonebeek. My confidence in the NAM is now completely zero.”
Social divisive issue
Former councilor in the municipality of Emmen Jenneke Ensink expressed strong criticism by letter of what she considered to be too compliant municipal administrators. “We already knew that Economic Affairs and NAM were two hands on one stomach, but with this letter to The Hague you show yourself a third hand on the stomach. The actions of the government thus contribute to a divisive issue in social cohesion in Schoonebeek.”
On Tuesday, Nature and Environmental Federation Drenthe advised the council members of Coevorden not to be too eager to take a cursory position. ‘We see no reason why you are already anticipating the preferred options for wastewater treatment. Partly in view of the outcome of the parliamentary inquiry, I can imagine that you will keep your hands free for a while,’ wrote director Reinder Hoekstra.
Monday Emmen
Meanwhile, the oil village seems to be divided about NAM activities for the first time. Even within the board of Dorpsbelangen Schoonebeek there are different views on the issue. The concerned residents will go through the village with a survey in the coming weeks. They expect to have an idea of the results in a month. The speakers asked politicians to wait for that before sending an advice to The Hague, but most political groups did not intend to do so on Tuesday evening.
Alderman Joop Slomp (PvdA) also said he saw little delay and would send the letter soon. “It is also the question of how long the Secretary of State will wait for us otherwise. We now have a chance to talk.”
Most councilors particularly pointed to Coevorden’s limited responsibility in the decision to inject wastewater into the soil. Marjan Nijenbanning (PvdA): ,,We are upset about how the process is going now. Economic interests are always a weighty argument in this dossier, but to what extent can the interests of our residents be expressed in monetary terms?”
During the discussion it turned out that the local opposition parties PPC and PAC in particular shared the criticism from Schoonebeek. Irene Driehuis (PAC) ,,We can always hide behind The Hague, but we can also stand up together, just like in Twente, and simply say that we do not agree. That is a strong signal to NAM and economic affairs that still seem to abuse the gullibility of part of Schoonebeek.”
The city council of Emmen will meet on Monday about the water injection. The opponents will also make themselves heard there.
Good neighbour
Nevertheless, NAM is still confident about the cooperation with the village. ‘We have been inextricably linked for 75 years. We’ve been good neighbors all along. With our plans we can also have a good future together.’