Vermilion Energy has signed a deal with two farmers from the municipality of Westerveld. From one farmer, Vermilion bought the nitrogen space. The nitrogen emissions are leased from the other farmer.
Vermilion Energy drills for gas at various locations in the Netherlands, including in Southwest Drenthe. In Wapse, natural gas is being extracted with two deep wells, which releases nitrogen that the company must compensate. The company has taken measures to limit nitrogen by installing so-called ‘NOx scrubbers’ on the generators.
In addition, the company has signed a deal with two farmers. This concerns nitrogen emissions that would otherwise have arisen as a result of livestock farming. The first farm involves 65 head of young cattle. The second for a total of more than 300 cows and young stock. As a result of the deal with Vermilion, both farms can no longer keep livestock.
Vermilion explains that when taking over the rights, they can use 70% of the taken over nitrogen space. According to them, the remaining 30% benefits nature.
Vermilion is not doing anything illegal with the construction, yet local politicians are not waiting for this. “I don’t like the way this happens at all,” explains Michiel van de Kasteelen (Progressive Westerveld). “You have to look at the problem as a whole and not approach the agricultural sector separately. Then you get these kinds of mutual deals, while the whole story is intended to allow nature to recover.” Anke Oosterhuis (D66) shares this idea. “The emissions must be bought up and distributed nationally.”
The PvdA party calls it ‘a very sad matter’ and the CDA party also says it has mixed feelings about it. “On the one hand, you have a company that tries to fulfill its rights and obligations in a good way,” says Gerjo Ballast (CDA), pointing to the fact that Vermilion has found farmers in the area and does not look outside the province. “But as long as the PAS detectors in the area have not yet been helped, I have trouble with that.”
Last week, several MPs expressed their dissatisfaction with the nitrogen emissions purchased by Schiphol and Rijkswaterstaat. The BBB, SGP and CDA want the nitrogen space to be used first for PAS detectors and for the protection of vulnerable nature. Later only for highways and aviation. The PvdD and GroenLinks also did not want Schiphol to buy out farmers.
Local party Sustainable Strong Westerveld is therefore also looking at The Hague. “The House of Representatives has recently spoken out about it. I would think it right if the decision was reversed,” says party chairman Geke Kiers. “I think that’s the right way. Otherwise, the measures will miss their target and we won’t be able to meet urgent tasks such as housing, for example. We don’t think Vermilion is an urgent task.”
The Labor Party agrees. “This little bit of gas that’s still in the ground here doesn’t make up for buying out farmers.”