Senate Postpones Vote on Groningen Gas Field Closure, Sparking Outrage and Renewed Concerns
Far right-wing senate needs more guarantee over energy security problems, despite 146 out of 150 parliamentary votes in favour of closing the gas fields.
The Dutch Senate has postponed a vote on legislation to permanently close the Groningen gas field due to concerns about the country's energy security. Normal gas production in Groningen ended last October due to risks of earthquakes, with the government proposing a law to shut down the field entirely by October 1st.
Last month, the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, passed the bill almost unanimously. Of the 150 parliamentarians, 146 voted for stopping gas extraction in Groningen. Ending the earthquakes was also a topic in many election campaigns for the parliamentary elections in November 2023. However, several Right-wing Senate fractions on Tuesday said they needed more guarantees that the law would not jeopardise the security of the country's gas supply.
Groningen has been plagued with gas mining earthquakes for decades. More than 1,600 earthquakes have been triggered by drilling since the 1980s, damaging 85,000 buildings. Only around 30% of houses have been made safe again and many Groningers are still waiting for compensation following tedious procedures.
Without the law, gas production could theoretically be resumed and Lower House lawmakers on Wednesday said they feared a considerable delay and ongoing uncertainty for people living in the region.
The law that regulates the permanent closure of the Groningen gas fields was supposed to be debated in the Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate, next week. The above-mentioned Senators have now postponed its handling.
“This was not a good day for the confidence of Groningen residents in national politics.”
René Paas, the King’s Commissioner in Groningen, told NOS about the Eerste Kamer’s surprise move.
The Senators know the promises that have been made to Groningen, Paas said. The move confirms the widespread scepticism that met the end of regular gas production in Groningen in October last year and people are “shocked, flabbergasted, furious or worse, cynical.”
While the delay has infuriated local officials, the law aims to prevent further earthquakes caused by gas extraction. Mining minister Hans Vijlbrief has pledged to address concerns promptly, emphasising the need for transparency.
Meanwhile, local organisations stress the urgency of ending gas production to prevent further harm. The Netherlands imports natural gas from Norway and the United Kingdom and liquified natural gas (LNG) from the United States and the Middle East. In 2023 some 9% of Dutch gas imports came from Russia but imports to Europe from that country will be completely phased out by 2027.