Netherlands' Wadden Islands firmly oppose gas drilling in North Sea
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The Wadden Islands are concerned about the long-standing consequences of the joint drilling plans of a new gas field in the North Sea by France and the Netherlands.
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The plan to drill for gas has long been on the negotiations table - with a lot of controversy surrounding it
The mayors of the Wadden Islands opposed the joint drilling of a new gas field in the North Sea by France and the Netherlands, Schiermonnikoog Mayor Ineke Gent confirmed on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Dutch State Secretary for Extractive Industries Hans Vijlbrief issued permission for the drilling. The site is set to be located 19 kilometers (11 miles) from the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog and the German island of Borkum. The first output of the gas field is expected in 2024.
Russia cut gas supplies to the Netherlands
The plan to drill for gas has long been on the negotiations table - with a lot of controversy surrounding it. However, in light of the Ukraine war, it has garnered a sense of urgency since Russia's Gazprom announced Tuesday that it was cutting gas supplies to the Netherlands.
Russia cut gas supplies because Dutch energy firm GasTerra refused to pay in rubles, which Moscow has been requesting for months now.
The Netherlands was the third European country that Russia cut gas supplies to, the first two being Poland and Bulgaria.
Long-standing consequences for nature
"There is no support for these drillings. We are firmly against it," Gent stressed, as quoted by Dutch news portal NL Times, adding that the islands were concerned about long-standing consequences for nature and local residents.
Vijlbrief assured the mayors that an "extensive report" was drawn up to address the environmental effects, which showed that all required conditions were met and offered to lower the drilling rig so it would be less visible from Schiermonnikoog.
Vulnerability of area increasing
In response to Vijlbrief's offer, Gent pointed out that "That is all good and nice, but it does not solve the fundamental problems. The vulnerability of the area is increasing."
"Gas may be extracted for many years to come, while we call for a switch to renewable energy and investing in the future instead of the past," she added.
The mayor further indicated that she is intending to launch political and social discussions on the matter, adding that the islands have already submitted several objections and are going to contact German islands, which had sent a letter to the Dutch authorities against gas extraction earlier this year.
