Dutch economy minister 'happy with Waddensee gas': NAM
The Dutch minister for the climate and economy is happy for gas production in the Wadden Sea, a nature reserve, to continue, operator NAM said June 28. A former member of parliament had asked Bas van 't Wout in March not to take irreversible decisions regarding new mining activities in the Wadden Sea before a number of ongoing studies had been completed.
The previous working day, Dutch gas transmission system operator Gasunie had told government that NAM's major asset, the nitrogen-rich Groningen field, could be closed down early. It said there was enough gas available to meet Dutch export obligations, either through converting the gas to low-calorie, or by converting customers to high calorie gas.
The minister told parliament that extraction under the Wadden Sea – home to several small fields – on the basis of the 'hand on the tap' principle still complies with the agreements made regarding the impact of gas extraction in the area. He also emphasised the positive climate contribution of safe and reliable gas extraction in the Netherlands.
The "hand on the tap principle" means that production is lowered progressively if subsidence proceeds faster than expected.
NAM CEO Johan Atema said: “It is good that other researchers and agencies continue to regularly check our work and give an independent opinion on it. This not only looks at the direct consequences of gas extraction, such as subsidence, but also at the cumulative effects of all activities, for example by keeping an eye on the bird population. The conclusions support us in entering the next phase with the Ternaard development together with the environment. In the coming years, we will continue to work for responsible and sustainable gas extraction in the Wadden area.”
The new sea level rise scenario for the next five years is in line with the development in the sea level rise already measured in recent periods, NAM said. This means that the predicted subsidence as a result of gas extraction in the Wadden area remains within the set requirements. Even if gas extraction from the Ternaard field is licensed, the expected subsidence will remain within the strict conditions.
The Wadden Sea gas extraction audit committee, part of the Netherlands committee for environmental assessment, said in its annual report last November that there were no indications of changes in the nature of the Wadden Sea and Lauwersmeer that could be the result of gas extraction.
Atema, who said he was born and raised in the area, said the company had been producing gas "responsibly and with great attention to the environment for more than 35 years."
The production benefits both the Netherlands and also the region, creating jobs and financially supporting important activities for the local environment, he said.