The reactions to the injection of money from the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) in FC Emmen vary. In the oil village of Schoonebeek, it raises eyebrows.
The sponsorship deal between NAM and FC Emmen comes at a special time. In Schoonebeek, NAM wants to inject waste water from oil extraction into empty gas fields. There is resistance in the village. Many people got the impression on Sunday that with the sponsorship of Emmen, NAM wants to cultivate goodwill for the water injection plans among the supporters of the professional club.
Nonsense, says NAM when asked. “This is separate. The NAM has been part of Southeast Drenthe for 75 years and wants to express this through sponsorship, among other things. The Schoonebeek oil field is one of the many fields we operate in this region. For example, the Coevorden gas field is now the largest small gas field on land. We have been producing from this field since 1952.”
Sponsor for many years
On Sunday, FC Emmen announced that the NAM is the new sponsor of the stadium and the club’s weight room. From now on, the logo and the slogan will be displayed Source of energy of the NAM on the facade of De Oude Meerdijk. The NAM has been visible on several billboards in the stadium for years and has also been investing money in the social branch of the professional club (Stichting Naoberschap) and FC Emmen’s disabled football. Club president Ronald Lubbers has his business roots in Schoonebeek, where the former family business Lubbers Transport transported equipment and parts for oil rigs for the oil and gas industry from the 1950s.
FC Emmen and NAM do not want to say how many euros are involved in the new sponsorship deal. Both say they will not make any statements about exact amounts. The NAM does want to say that there is an increase in the sponsor amount.
Black gold
The NAM is in the spotlight because of the debt of honor due to gas extraction in the province of Groningen and is currently negotiating with the government about restarting oil extraction at Schoonebeek, not far from FC Emmen’s home base. The NAM wants to stop wastewater from oil extraction underground at the oil village, so that it can pump up billions of euros worth of black gold.
In the oil village there are supporters and opponents of new activities of the former sugar daddy and largest employer of the village. What everyone seems to agree on: when restarting, a large part of the oil revenues must benefit residents in the vicinity of Schoonebeek. Then it is not about ‘mirrors and beads’ or sponsoring local associations and facilities. The intention is that every Schoonebeker can look forward to a large bag of money for making their own home or company more sustainable. In principle, the contribution from NAM should not flow directly to the municipal coffers of Coevorden and Emmen. And anyone who fears money pumping in the Wildlands animal park or the new stadium of FC Emmen could count on a pitying look.
Premonition
Until Sunday the baptism of the new sponsor lettering at the professional football club was announced. The premonition that this has to do with the situation in Schoonebeek cannot be taken away from everyone by NAM. Such as with Jenneke Ensing of the interest group Stop Afvalwater Schoonebeek (SAS). She is very different in the game. “The timing is remarkable to say the least, because now the first cash injection seems to land in Emmen and not in Schoonebeek. The NAM is constantly talking about ‘naobership’, but how does this affect our Groningen naobers?”
Those concerns are also unjustified, says the NAM. “We have always been clear in our message that Schoonebeek should benefit from oil production. This is independent of NAM’s donation and sponsorship policy, with which we show that as a company we feel connected to the region in which we carry out activities.” The NAM emphasizes that it is not the company’s responsibility to spend the oil money for Schoonebeek on, but that this is part of the so-called Schoonebeek Area Process, a consultation between the company, residents and the government.
Question marks removed
For Naoberschap Oliedorp (NOD), supporters of the restart of oil extraction provided Schoonebeek also benefits, the sponsorship deal with Emmen is proof that NAM will remain in the vicinity for a longer period of time. ,,NAM apparently has confidence in new oil extraction. We have that too. It is good that the company shows such commitment to our region. We also had a few questions when the news became known, but it is now clear to us that these are not Schoonebeker money”, says Rennie Hans of NOD.