Local residents are furious with the salt extractor and supervisor of the State Supervision of Mines, because Nedmag is thus taking an advance on the future, while this case is still before the courts. They want SSM to enforce immediately. According to Kees Ploegman, board member of the Stop Zoutwinning foundation, SSM had known about Nedmag’s plans for some time and the regulator has not given up. This foundation consists of local residents from Zuidlaarderveen and Oud-Annerveen, among others.
“They don’t have a permit for this well, so they are in violation,” says Kees Ploegman from the neighboring village of Kiel-Windeweer. “We have urged the SodM to act urgently, otherwise the well has already been drilled before they take action.”
What seems? The regulator has been aware of the drilling of the new well for some time. Ploegman: “I was called by the SodM. They did not enforce, but after consultation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs concluded that Nedmag’s request is admissible. In our view, the SodM tolerates the drilling.”
The opponents of salt mining are fierce. “We are very angry about this. It appears once again that the supervisor no longer supervises and is an extension of the ministry. SodM knows how mining is experienced in this area, but nevertheless offers Nedmag the space to continue. That is too crazy for words. Our case is still before the court! This is a blow below the belt of the SodM to us.”
Abel Jan Smit, mining director at Nedmag is not aware of any harm. Nedmag acknowledges that it cannot yet get started with actually extracting salt. That is only possible when the judge has rendered a positive judgment for Nedmag in September.