The House of Representatives wants Ekehaar to be compensated retroactively for mining damage. Drenthe MP Henk Jumelet (CDA) today submitted a motion that was adopted unanimously.
Jumelet submitted the motion together with MP Peter de Groot (VVD) because of the new compensation scheme that is coming, he explains. “Then it is good that the situation in Ekehaar is not covered by the old scheme, but that the old damage is included in the new damage scheme.”
Ekehaar is not covered by the damage scheme for the Groningen gas field and the Langelo gas storage, whereby you as a resident do not have to prove that damage to your home is due to gas extraction. Ekehaar falls under the scheme for the rest of the country: the Mining Damage Committee (CMS) – where gas extractor NAM also has a big finger in the pie – assesses whether or not damage is caused by gas extraction. And if so, what the amount of the damage is.
There was a lot of dissatisfaction in Ekehaar about the handling of that damage. Many residents received very little or no compensation and did not feel taken seriously.
In December, Sophie Hermans (VVD), then outgoing Minister of Climate and Green Growth, visited Ekehaar and talked to the residents and mayor. She acknowledged “that things have gone wrong.”
She also said that the “complaints in the conversation will be included in the evaluation of the Mining Damage Commission”. She promised that if the arrangement changes, it will also apply retroactively to Ekehaar. And the Mining Damage Committee itself also believes that claims handling should be broader, as it acknowledged in January.
“The minister’s agreement is also included in the report with retroactive effect, but the minister’s letter to the House of Representatives did not contain that agreement,” Jumelet explains. “That came to my attention and because I am interested in the settlement of the damage, I submitted this motion with Peter de Groot.”
It is still unclear exactly what the new arrangement will look like. Ultimately, it is the mining companies that are responsible for paying out compensation and must agree to the broader settlement of compensation claims.
“The damage settlement is still being given shape and content,” Jumelet responds. “But with this motion, the ministry is once again reminded of its earlier agreement. It is to do justice to the people in Ekehaar, to do justice to the problems they have and to ensure that they are properly heard.”
