All options are open to Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten in a gas crisis. “We are also looking at coal-fired power stations, but I will not hesitate to accelerate climate action.” That’s what he says tonight news hour.
“The Netherlands must reduce CO2 emissions faster. So subsidize, standardize and price more. That all has to be done even faster now,” says the minister, who does not want to lose sight of the climate during a gas crisis.
Options
Jetten presented his explanation of the climate plans of the cabinet. It states that the cabinet wants to strengthen the direction of climate policy. Jetten emphasizes that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is an additional reason to act even faster. The Netherlands must be climate neutral by 2050 at the latest.
“Due to the war, we also experience here that energy is a means of pressure from Russian President Vladimir Putin. We are now experiencing the burden of that. That is why we have to build the green economy faster,” says Jetten, who remains positive. “On average, we will use a third less gas this year, gas consumption has already fallen sharply.”
There are also options for this coming winter, says Jetten. “The import of more liquid gas. The Netherlands is in a good starting position. We can quickly import from other countries. Companies are queuing up to deliver to the Netherlands.”
Emergency plan
This week, the Russian Gazprom decided to (partially) turn off the gas tap, because GasTerra, the largest gas importer in the Netherlands, does not want to pay in rubles. In any case, it has been agreed throughout Europe to become less dependent on Russian gas as soon as possible. But if Russia turns off the gas tap before Europe has alternatives, the Netherlands will have an emergency plan.
The emergency plan is not necessary for Jetten for the time being. “In the short term, we are in good shape.” But he does warn. “There can be a domino effect due to countries that are much more dependent on Russian gas. Then the neighboring countries have to help and they can also arrive at the Netherlands. That can be very exciting and that means taking emergency measures: allowing companies to temporarily use less gas, which means that households are spared.”
The dependence on Russian gas arose at the beginning of this century through his own actions. Then Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende flew to Moscow to conclude a contract with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the supply of Siberian natural gas for a period of twenty years. Despite warnings from Gasunie that Putin could use natural gas as a political means of pressure, with serious consequences.
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A 20-year gas contract with Putin
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The cabinet works with the ‘Gas Protection and Recovery Plan’ of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. This provides for measures in the event of a gas crisis. For example, how gas will be distributed in the event of scarcity. For example, if the crisis worsens, the cabinet can even cut off companies and entire parts of the Netherlands from natural gas. First the industry will be disconnected, but hospitals and households will be ‘protected users’.
European crisis
Jetten: “The plan is a work in progress. Now we understand much better that the situation is different and that we should never depend on one country again.” Jetten talks to large gas consumers about the consequences of switching off. He does not want to name sectors. “Because it is business-sensitive information.”
Coal-fired power stations, which are now running at 35 percent of capacity due to the climate targets, can therefore run faster again as far as Jetten is concerned. “This is a European crisis, many countries are dependent on Russia. They have a really acute problem. Because of the domino effect, you have to be prepared to take emergency measures.”
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