The Dutch Oil Company (NAM) will not start Gas Extraction in Warffum Until the Court Has Ruled in An Appeal Case. The Court Will Consider The Appeal Next Week. Accordance to the new permit, Gas Extraction Could Start on Saturday.
Minister Sophie Hermans (Climate and Green Growth) Announced in March That Nam May Resume Gas Extraction. The Province of Groningen and the Municipality of Het Hogeland, Where Warffum is locationed, Appealed Against This.
The Permit is automatically suspended because – in Addition to the Appeal – A Request has also leg submitted to the Court to Stop Gas Extraction Until the Ruling, A Nam Spokesperson Told the ANP . “Nam will Therefore not start up the field until that time.” The Appeal Will Be Heard in Court on May 23.
The Administrators of the Province and the Municipality Find the Start-up of Gas Extraction Unacceptable Anyway. They believe that the cabinet and nam not listening enough to the groups of residents. Hermans Decided to Grant the Permit because advice Showed that Extraction from the relatively small gas field “can be technically safe.”
Warffum was Previously Affected by Earthquakes As A Result of Gas Extraction in the Nearby Groningen Field. That gas field was permanently closed last year because of the risks. The Cabinet then promised to No Longer Extract “Groningen Gas.” But that promise only turned out to be about the Groningen field. The Cabinet Does See Room For The Smaller Gas Field, But this leads to Dissatisfaction Among Residents.
Opponents Hope that the Judge Will Revoke the Permit. They started a petition on Friday to speak out against new permits. The Action is an initiative of respect for Groningen. The Groningen Soil Movement, SP Member of Parliament Sandra Beckerman and Entrepreneur Chris Garrit Are Involved.