2. 2
First, something about the importance of Bergermeer to
society. Gas storage facilities are becoming increasingly more
relevant in terms of securing the supply of energy. This is not
only the case for the Netherlands, where the extraction of gas
in Groningen has come under pressure. In its capacity as one
of the largest gas storage facilities in Europe’s open market,
Bergermeer can also offer a meaningful contribution to the
common good of secured energy supply in the European Union.
Gas storage also supports the large-‐scale implementation
of sustainable energy. For example, the use of natural gas -‐ the
cleanest fossil energy source -‐ is an obvious choice when the
sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing; gas which once
stored is immediately available. Gas storage is also financially
In addition, Bergermeer contributes to the international
competitive position of the Netherlands in the energy market and
helps achieve competitive energy prices for Dutch households.
But how can you next also integrate a major project of pub-‐
lic interest in a responsible manner? Gas Storage Bergermeer is
now a fact. Its construction was achieved within the specified
contributed to its realisation. Gas Storage Bergermeer, which
will involve a total investment of three billion euros, is one of
the largest infrastructural investments in the Dutch economy in
general and in the energy region of Alkmaar in particular.
Between concept and completion of Gas Storage Berger-‐
meer lie eight years of planning, consultation, permit applica-‐
tions, testing and construction. In order to re-‐use the Berger-‐
had to be incorporated in natural surroundings and right next to
residential areas. All the more reason to implement Bergermeer
with full respect for people, the environment and society.
Both the design and the construction and supervision of
Gas Storage Bergermeer were carried out in close consultation
with many experts and stakeholders, and not without initial
resistance to the project. To be honest, the latter did at times
prove to be something of a challenge for all parties involved. But
ultimately, this all benefited the well-‐devised implementation of
Gas Storage Bergermeer. And we are very grateful to all parties
involved for that.
In this special publication to mark the official inauguration
of Bergermeer, we gladly focus on various people who can talk
about the realisation from different angles and with authority.
We do so in the conviction that this holds some lessons for the
future for all parties involved.
Jan Willem van Hoogstraten
Lessons from
Bergermeer’
How can you integrate a facility of national importance that is as large as it is far-reaching in
such a manner that this general interest can also be served during its construction? Until recent-
ly, this was basically the question that TAQA and EBN were facing with Gas Storage Bergermeer.
3. 3
Jan Willem van Hoogstraten,
Managing Director TAQA Energy BV
One of the largest
infrastructural
investments in the
Dutch economy
INTRODUCTION
4. 4
This booklet is a one-‐off publication by TAQA Energy BV on the occasion
INTERVIEWS:
Saskia Legein
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Eric de Vries
LAYOUT:
X11 Creatie, Danny de Neef
COLOPHON
5. 5
6
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
‘In the past, people often felt tricked by salami tactics’
Godert van der Feltz, Lawyer and co-owner of Van der Feltz Advocaten
‘There is substantial international interest for Bergermeer and
the number of customers is growing’
Jan Dirk Bokhoven, CEO EBN
‘Everyone in the Netherlands wants the heater to stay on’
Deputy Secretary of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Gas Storage Bergermeer at a glance
‘The government should learn to be unanimous in its statements’
Piet Bruinooge, Mayor of the city of Alkmaar
‘The court case was expensive, but it did enable
us to give Bergenaren a voice’
Alwin Hietbrink, former GroenLinks Alderman of the municipality of Bergen
Executive Director International Energy Agency
‘We must make societal risks manageable’
Inspector General SodM
Jo Laan, former Dike Warden living in the close vicinity of the gas storage
‘How could our polder board have imagined in 1971 that, forty
years later, there would have been a gas storage on this site?’
CONTENTS
‘Discussing nature setoff claims is often far more effective if you do it in advance’
Krijn Jan Provoost, District Manager of Natuurmonumenten (Dutch National Trust)
6. 6
Gas Storage Bergermeer
at a glance
the Arabic word for energy.
-‐
duction of oil and natural gas, but the company
in fact focuses even more on the generation of
electricity and the desalination of water.
of Abu Dhabi.
the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom,
already been active in the Alkmaar region for
About TAQA
insufficiently available, gas is needed to meet the
demand.
-‐
proven to be technically sound. Throughout the
world, hundreds of gas storage facilities have
already been in operation for decades. The oldest
gas storage facility, in the United States, dates
has gas storage facilities in Grijpskerk, Norg and
Zuidwending.
operates the peak gas installation in Alkmaar. This
too is an underground gas storage facility. The
facility has already been feeding additional gas to
the gas network in the Randstad urban conglo-‐
merate during daily and seasonal peak moments
About gas
transition to sustainable energy, the position of
the Netherlands in the energy market and good
energy prices for consumers.
access gas storage facility, with a working volume
of 4.1 billion cubic metres of natural gas. That is
-‐
sumption of the Netherlands and enough to meet
a project of national importance by the govern-‐
ment.
percent of our energy needs, twice as much as in
the rest of Europe.
emissions of gas are less than half of
those of coal or oil.
percent higher efficiency than coal.
natural gas as the cleanest fossil fuel to make
the transition to sustainable energy manage-‐
ment. The supply of solar and wind energy is not
of the Netherlands. Furthermore, solar and wind
energy cannot be stored. At times when these are
The oldest gas storage facility
dates from 1917, (US)
6
7. 7
-‐
therlands.
-‐
ferent nationalities have worked on the construc-‐
tion of Gas Storage Bergermeer.
of Gas Storage Bergermeer, more than seventy
percent were from the Netherlands, mainly from
the province of North Holland.
new jobs in total. On top of that, approximately
one hundred new permanent jobs will be created
with suppliers.
About the People
environment during the drilling operations, a ten-‐
metre-‐high noise barrier was erected around the
Bergermeer construction site. In addition, low-‐
noise generators and a low-‐noise derrick which
runs on electricity were used.
-‐
nuously recorded the noise levels. If the agreed-‐
upon standard was exceeded, work was halted
until the cause of this noise was eliminated.
due to the use of the best available technology
number of breeding birds in the vicinity of Gas
Storage Bergermeer has remained unchanged.
This has become apparent from counts commis-‐
sioned by TAQA and carried out by independent
-‐
-‐
native for meadow birds reluctant to nest in the
vicinity of the derrick.
godwits use the wetland parcel that has been
realised at Bergermeer by TAQA in recent years.
construction site was illuminated with green light
instead of white light at night. The green light is
less disruptive to humans and animals.
pipelines which connect the storage site below
Bergermeer and the gas treatment facility at
the Boekelermeer industrial estate were drilled
beneath the forest up to thirty metres deep.
TAQA retained all the marsh-‐marigold and later
replanted them.
TAQA inadvertently created an extra bird nursery.
Several couples of martins built their nests in a
raised mound of soil that was created when bury-‐
ing the pipes.
nothing protrudes above ground level, preserving
the wide views across the Loterijlanden.
yield additional nature: TAQA wants to perma-‐
nature area.
About the direct
environment
TAQA is the Arabic
word for energy
7
8. 8
plan with fixed routes and times for its own staff
and construction traffic.
traffic turning left to the well location to prevent
possible road congestion.
supervisors oversaw the daily traffic to and from
the construction site at Bergermeer.
for road safety campaigns at all secondary schools
and a large number of primary schools and sports
clubs in Alkmaar and Bergen to raise awareness of
the construction traffic on local roads.
which are along or near the routes of TAQA’s
construction traffic have received lessons through
spots in traffic.
any accidents that have resulted in absenteeism.
the construction and operation of Gas Storage
Bergermeer, TAQA opened an information centre
at the Boekelermeer in Alkmaar during the con-‐
struction period.
construction sites at the Boekelermeer and Ber-‐
germeer.
-‐
struction of the gas storage facility, TAQA con-‐
stantly kept local residents up-‐to-‐date on all the
developments. TAQA launched a separate website
for the storage facility and published information
each week in the regional daily newspaper and
regional house-‐to-‐house publications.
About the communication
About safety
-‐
-‐
-‐
therlands for which a full three-‐dimensional geo-‐
mechanical model has been made. Only statistical
analyses were made for all the other gas fields in
the Netherlands.
even the slightest vibrations at Bergermeerveld
registrations.
the municipalities of Alkmaar, Schermer, Heiloo
and Bergen. In addition to the legal liability TAQA
has, these covenants specify how stakeholders
are helped in a fast and service-‐oriented manner
in the case of damage due to gas storage or gas
extraction.
-‐
meer, TAQA had baseline measurements car-‐
region in order to be able to trace back any later
cross section comprised pre-‐war and post-‐war
buildings, high-‐rise buildings, farm houses and
monuments. The base line measurement was
devised in such a way that for each structure in
Alkmaar, Bergen, Heiloo and Schermer there are
always three properties for comparison.
for the direct environment, TAQA in consultation
with the contractors, the neighbouring munici-‐
palities and the province of North Holland has
established a comprehensive traffic management
8
9. 9
through a specially designated information num-‐
ber.
about both current and future building activities,
hours and meetings for residents.
TAQA offered solar panels to residents living in the
immediate vicinity of the drilling site of the wells
when the construction period commenced.
including their annexes cover seven metres of file
flesh out the permit applications.
-‐
ment agencies.
debate in Dutch parliament twice.
State Council approved all permits for the con-‐
Storage Bergermeer, as well as two hundred mil-‐
lion kilos of steel, nearly twenty thousand cubic
metres of concrete and more than six hundred
kilometres of cable.
pipeline was constructed and installed under-‐
ground.
at Gas Storage Bergermeer. It is a huge settling
basin and the first major station in the process of
making the natural gas which comes up from the
underground storage suitable for consumers. The
Antwerp over the Scheldt in the direction of
Zeeland, via Dordrecht right through Holland to
Amsterdam and then across the IJsselmeer to the
north of North Holland. Just before the Afsluitdijk,
the slugcatcher had to be tilted at an angle of
pass through the Stevinsluizen lock complex at
Den Oever. The transport then proceeded to Den
Helder and from there to Alkmaar via the North
Holland Canal.
About the permit
application process and
the construction
cultural institutions for amateurs and professio-‐
nals in Bergen, Schermer, Heiloo and Alkmaar.
Culture Fund has more than doubled in the past
the municipalities of Alkmaar, Bergen, Heiloo and
Schermer. Through the covenant, TAQA will invest
these municipalities.
-‐
tenplaats Kranenburgh’ in Bergen for seven years.
Holland North in various fields, TAQA together
with the Chamber of Commerce Northwest Hol-‐
land has organised expert meetings for regional
companies.
About the business
climate in the energy
region of Alkmaar
‘Sand martins built nests in soil
that was thrown up during
excavation work’
9
10. 10
There is substantial
international interest for
Bergermeer and the number
of customers is growing’
What position does Gas Storage Bergermeer
hold in the gas market?
-‐
lands. Furthermore, it is the largest open-‐access gas storage
facility of Northwest Europe. Its flexible and comprehensive
range of services for international market parties constitutes a
welcome addition to the Dutch wholesale market for gas, which
is currently already the most fluid gas trading hub in Europe. The
demand for storage capacity during the last auction in Septem-‐
been leased out so far. The number of customers is still growing
and there is also increasing interest in the supplementary ser-‐
vices available at Bergermeer, such as providing storage space
to keep gas as collateral. Bergermeer is also performing well in
the secondary trade of gas storage positions. We are therefore
How does EBN looks back on the realisation
of Gas Storage Bergermeer?
that energy projects are implemented within the agreed-‐upon
term and budget and with optimum attention to the safety and
wellbeing of people and the direct environment. Within these
pre-‐conditions, TAQA has successfully managed to realise a
sizable project. It was completed on schedule and within the
budget of almost nine hundred million euros, which is already
in winning the trust of local stakeholders through its responsible
integration of the gas storage facility in the area. We feel that
the manner in which it has achieved this, in a relatively densely
populated part of the country, can also serve as a model for the
implementation of gas projects on the Dutch mainland.’
When the Netherlands is able to produce less
gas in the future, should it more actively start
to market its know-how about gas and gas
storage?
we are indeed keen to maintain our position as a gas knowledge
hub. New developments such as Gas Storage Bergermeer help
make that possible. In this way, we can further solidify our
international position.’
Is EBN facing a dilemma between selling
Dutch gas, marketing the national gas know-
ledge, offering gas storage and the growing
public opposition to natural gas?
invokes negative associations among a lot of people. In the past,
the comfort and convenience of gas gave the commodity an
impeccable image, but this is continuously eroding due to all the
negative developments that have transpired. If we want gas to
become socially acceptable again, then we will have to be fully
transparent about our activities and involve the local environ-‐
Jan Dirk Bokhoven has been CEO of EBN since 2007. State company EBN is active in the exploration,
production, storing and trading of oil and gas. It generally participates for forty percent in explora-
tion and production licenses and cooperates with oil and gas companies in that respect. EBN also
holds a forty-percent stake in four underground gas storage facilities, one of which is Gas Storage
Bergermeer. In recent years, EBN has worked closely together with TAQA. Bokhoven is of the opinion
that Bergermeer can serve as a model for other gas projects in the Netherlands.
11. 11INTERVIEW
Jan Dirk Bokhoven,
CEO EBN
ment where possible. In addition to the technical challenges
involved to safely and sustainably win the gas, this is also one
of the main challenges facing the entire Dutch gas industry.
Vast amounts of knowledge are available, but so far we have
been insufficiently able to share this knowledge with Dutch
consumers and other target groups. We have not been clear
enough; not about our activities, not about the complexity of
the soil, not about the dangers and risks and also not about the
challenges which we are facing. We will need to become more
transparent and that is only possible if all parties in the sector
join forces. Obviously, we must be very mindful of the possi-‐
ble effects on the direct surroundings in that respect and take
these into consideration. Ultimately, a healthy natural gas sector
can not only offer a vital contribution to the Dutch economy;
it can also help achieve a sustainable economy at acceptable
costs.’
All available
capacity already
leased at auction
12. How did you see to it that the negotiations
with TAQA Energy would result in maximum
feasibility?
Bergen, all had differing ideas about gas storage in the Berger-‐
meer. The first three were soon favourable to the project, but
Bergen was against. Everyone, however, immediately agreed
that the gas treatment installation necessary for the storage
should not be built in the nature reserve. Alkmaar has a large
-‐
tion of how to attract more employment there. In that context
we saw the storage and treatment installations as an opportu-‐
nity. We have managed to sell the plot for the factory and the
a profit. We made an agreement about jobs during the con-‐
struction work and also about long-‐term jobs. To this end, TAQA
promised to move its head office to Alkmaar. Few people in
Alkmaar were against the arrival of the storage and the factory.
They are down-‐to-‐earth people and they had no negative ex-‐
perience with TAQA’s peak gas installation in the Boekelermeer.
A public security guarantee for resident neighbours was, ho-‐
surroundings in advance, so that any damage caused by building
or tremors could be easily resolved. We made contracts with
TAQA for any possible future damage. We also wanted to make
use of their network, especially to lure more companies in the
energy sector to this region. I have never had the feeling that
we were talking with an opponent, it was a matter of coope-‐
ration, and personal relationships were perfect. TAQA lived up
to their promises. During the construction work they saw to
it that there was as little inconvenience for the neighbours as
possible and they also invested in local cultural activities. They
are the main sponsor of the theatre in Alkmaar with a donation
of a million euros. This is now called TAQA Theater De Vest. In
theatre, but in general the Alkmaar people are happy with their
neighbour from Abu Dhabi.’
What was your wish list for the Ministry of
for the gas storage and treatment ifacility?
-‐
onal problem. I still remember a meaty discussion in the study
-‐
cious in the matter as to who should bear the risk. It was up to
-‐
ment installation. As far as we were concerned this should be
as small as possible in order to warrant the settlement of other
-‐
nister of Transport to build an exit to the Boekelermeer on the
an active part in developing an energy cluster in Alkmaar by
organizing an international energy conference and by appointing
an account manager in order to attract innovative industries.
-‐
nment subsidy to design a biomass burner in the region. I am
sorry to say the development in this matter is going too slowly,
but now it is up to the Province of North Holland to open up the
funds for sustainable energy.’
What would your advice be to local adminis-
trators, if such a large-scale project is planned
for in their region?
-‐
tion is: What do I wish to achieve? If this is not clear, you will
be a straying negotiator and the results will be accordingly. The
government should learn to be unanimous in its statements.
The government should learn to
be unanimous in its statements’
Piet Bruinooge has been mayor of the city of Alkmaar since 2007. He already knew TAQA as the
owner of the peak gas installation at the Boekelermeer industrial estate in Alkmaar. When plans
for gas storage in the Bergermeer were revealed, Bruinooge and his council soon announced that
the necessary treatment units were also welcome in the Boekelermeer, at least, if the region
would get enough in return.
12
13. Piet Bruinooge,
Mayor of the city of Alkmaar
Stimulating
the economy
of the region
of Alkmaar were soon on the same wavelength. We wanted to
stimulate the economy of the region. For this reason we were in
favour of the arrival of the gas storage if this would bring along
what the full extent of the project implied. It began to dawn on
from Abu Dhabi. This is something that does not happen very
often when you are a mayor. Then I also realized: they need us.
We were not so much the ones asking for favours and this made
it a lot easier to carry on negotiations.’
13INTERVIEW
14. Everyone in the Netherlands
wants the heater to stay on’
yield to the Netherlands?
and for the gas market to function properly, it is important to
store gas in the Netherlands as well. These gas reserves serve
as a buffer and may protect our country against any inter-‐
ruption of the supply or any shortages as a result of increased
demand. Everyone in the Netherlands wants the heater to stay
on. If, all of a sudden, more gas is needed in the Netherlands,
for instance, during a severe winter, gas from the Bergermeer
storage can be deployed.’
hub strategy?
been the foundation for an affordable, reliable and relatively
clean energy supply. We are working towards a more sustainable
-‐
cent sustainable energy. Fossil fuels, and so also gas, will remain
important in the years to come to satisfy the entire demand
for energy in the Netherlands. It goes for the production that
in taking decisions on gas mining, the effect on safety comes
first. On the basis of new studies, the government will decide
in July whether gas mining in Groningen can be reduced to the
minimum which will guarantee a certainty of supply. We will also
have a look if a new gas mining system is feasible or if we will be
more dependent on other countries , like Russia, for our energy
supply. A decision on this matter will be taken by the govern-‐
see to it that the energy supply will remain guaranteed.’
What is the ideal mix of energy for the
Netherlands in terms of percentages of coal,
gas and renewables?
share of sustainable energy in the Netherlands will go up in the
years to come. For example, the government is doing its best to
increase wind farms at sea. In the Netherlands you see more and
more roofs with solar panels. In the years to come fossil fuels
will remain important to satisfy our demand for energy. To this
end, gas is preferable since it is cleaner than all other kinds of
fossil fuels. The less CO is emitted, the better.’
In the last few years gas prices have gone
down. What does this mean for the Nether-
lands and what are the prospects in the longer
run?
trade centres where the price is fixed on the basis of supply and
demand. The traditional linking of the gas price to the oil price
almost belongs to the past. The main trade centre for gas in
North Western Europe, and therefore in all of Europe, is now the
Dutch trade centre TTF. Here the gas price has remained stable
over the past few years, especially if you compare it to the
price of oil which has gone down considerably in recent years.
We did see a big drop in the difference in price between gas in
summer and in winter, though. This means we have succeeded
in establishing a functioning market as was intended in the gas
hub strategy. Not only does the market for the construction and
exploitation of large gas storages work well, but also the gas
market itself.’
What conditions for granting a licence to
TAQA for the construction and exploitation
of Gas Storage Bergermeer took longest to
negotiate?
Mid 2011 Mark Dierikx stepped forward as Deputy Secretary of Energy, Telecom and Competition at
the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Just before that, the Second Chamber had given the go-ahead to the
gas storage. Gas Storage Bergermeer has been designated as a project of national importance and is
part of the state’s gas hub strategy. According to Mr Dierkx the Netherlands cannot work towards a
more sustainable energy management in 2020 without large-scale projects such as Bergermeer.
14
15. Mark Dierikx,
Deputy Secretary of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs
has to comply with are regulated by law. The first Dutch gas
storage sites were built in Norg, Grijpskerk and Alkmaar. In the
Netherlands gas storage only takes place under strict conditi-‐
ons, for instance with regard to tremors. Apart from the existing
statutory regulations, TAQA entered into a covenant with the
municipalities involved with additional agreements on how to
How do you look back upon the course taken
for granting the licence?
project fell under the arrangement for government coordi-‐
of Infrastructure and Environment were responsible for the
the coordination and the concessions. With a view to meticu-‐
lousness and effectiveness, intensive talks have been conducted
with all the municipalities involved and also with the Province of
Noord-‐Holland on the contents of these decisions. Important
parts of the region, like the municipalities of Alkmaar, Heiloo and
Schermer and also the Province of North Holland were favoura-‐
ble to the initiative.’
How will the Ministry of Economic Affairs
Bergermeer has come into operation?
inspections. Various commitments as to monitoring have been
included in the licence which TAQA has to comply with and
which enable supervision of the operational management.’
in large-scale energy projects in the
Netherlands?
-‐
ply reliable, clean and safe. Our energy supply is becoming more
sustainable and we are going to use more different sources of
energy. Such a development cannot take place without large-‐
scale projects, new infrastructure and more local production
or storage of energy. It is up to the government to explain the
importance of all this to its citizens.’
Keeping a reliable
energy supply
15INTERVIEW
16. The gas storage project required 44 permits
from, to name but a few parties, municipali-
ties, the water board and Rijkswaterstaat
(a division of the Ministry of Infrastructure
and Environment). Combined, enough
legal advice do they contain?
such as the minimum groundwater levels that must be main-‐
tained and the maximum allowable noise levels during drilling.
Those applications were mainly prepared by TAQA’s own legal
the procedures surrounding the arrangement for government
coordination, which at the time was still in its infancy. The ar-‐
permits in one go for projects of national importance. As part
bears responsibility for the control but also for the coordination
in terms of implementation. Without this kind of coordination,
the decisions of various administrative bodies are taken at
various moments and they are assessed by different judges. In
this system, citizens often end up feeling tricked by so-‐called
salami tactics. People with objections would sometimes be told
stage, only to be told later by a different governmental body
that the deadline for lodging objections had already passed.
The coordination arrangement forces a clear overview of all the
implications of large-‐scale projects. Providing legal assistance in
before did I have to offer so much advice on potentially adverse
government bodies as in this project. In later arrangement for
government coordination projects which I advised on, the mi-‐
nistry was focused much stronger on safeguarding the objection
deadlines for all parties involved. This is also something that
TAQA had hoped for. That this was not the case for Gas Storage
Bergermeer I think is partially due to the lack of experience with
this arrangement and partially to the initial resistance among
local authorities.’
process of permit applications?
harmonious solutions, which TAQA strongly wanted, proved
Gas Storage Bergermeer. He too wanted to come to harmonious
solutions which would satisfy all the local government bodies.
The toughest issue was the safety ring around the gas treat-‐
ment facility in Alkmaar. The zoning plan was not the problem; it
allowed for the construction of this heavy installation there. But
the municipality did want to retain the option to allow offices
and facilities elsewhere on the industrial estate. So TAQA ended
up purchasing the land within the safety zone of Alkmaar for an
absolutely generous amount.’
at Bergermeer date from 2006. It took al-
most ten years for the facility to actually be
realised. Is the Netherlands an international
exception in terms of the many legal require-
ments that must be met before permits are
issued?
size, but much of what TAQA wanted to realise as well as its
contracts with foreign clients such as Gazprom and Statoil are
covered by EU legislation. This means they are the same in
other member countries. But there are some notable diffe-‐
rences in culture. For example, there was a lot of discussion on
the preservation of grassland birds at Bergermeer. One ditch in
In the past, people often felt
tricked by salami tactics’
Between 1994 and 2000, Godert van der Feltz offered legal advice on the drilling of gas in the
Wadden Sea. Currently, he advises on the concessions for shale gas extraction in the Noord-
oostpolder and Brabant. From 2010 on, he has been advising TAQA in the judicial proceedings
surrounding the arrangement for government coordination. Gas Storage Bergermeer was one of
16
17. Godert van der Feltz,
Lawyer and co-‐owner of Van der Feltz Advocaten
particular turned out to be a meeting place for adolescent birds.
It was unknown whether TAQA’s derrick would have a disrup-‐
tive effect on their amorous behaviour. The province of North
Holland wanted a compensation area for the birds and TAQA
has provided this, up to and including protection against foxes.
uses green lights on the derrick to disturb the birds less. I think
that the board of TAQA in Abu Dhabi must have scratched their
heads more than once, wondering what this fuss about gras-‐
sland birds was all about. Fortunately, one of the CEOs was from
England; they are just as passionate there about nature as we
are here in the Netherlands, so he did understand.’
What is in the covenants that TAQA has
entered into with the surrounding areas?
-‐
lities and the province in which TAQA promises to provide a clear
procedure to residents who suffer damage as a result of tre-‐
mors or construction work. By law, all citizens are already well
protected against these damages. However, cases in which the
affected parties must hire an expert who provides information
on the cause and extent of the damage. Citizens would rather
see a reversal of that burden of proof. In Groningen, everyone
wants the party which is building or drilling to prove that their
activities are not the cause of damage. But the burden of proof
is an important cornerstone of our legal system and covenants
do not change this. But they are convenient resources should
matters escalate despite the many agreements. For example, if
you are upset then how can you lodge a complaint with TAQA?
In line with the covenant, TAQA has made available an informa-‐
tion centre and a telephone number. On a website specifically
launched for this purpose, news and the results of ongoing
seismic surveys are published. The covenant also stipulates that
in the case of damage, both parties only need to use one single
independent expertise agency instead of separately hiring own
experts. The covenants help grease the legal wheels that af-‐
fected parties can already fall back on to begin with.’
Finding harmonious
solutions proved very
time-consuming
17INTERVIEWINTERVIEW
18. 18
Reports by TNO (Netherlands Organisation
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology) sug-
gest that the gas storage will only result in a
slight chance of earthquakes, which will have
a maximum strength of 3.9 on the Richter
scale. Furthermore, tremors and soil move-
ment could also occur without the presence of
the gas storage facility due to the fact that the
depleted as a result of gas extraction in the
past. Did you take these factors into consid-
eration when formulating your point of view?
We felt that the safety risks were disproportionally high. During
of Economic Affairs was already defensive. That bothered me
is no stranger to gas extraction, which occurred at Bergermeer
cases of damage to homes being reported. And then a spokes-‐
person from the ministry in The Hague drops by to say that any
this will feel like a big truck driving past your house.
That was clearly very upsetting to the residents who still vividly
have made Bergermeer seismically unstable. Gas storage in it-‐
self is a safe technology, but its impact on a seismically unstable
area is almost impossible to study. In addition, Bergermeer is
poised to become the largest storage site of Northwest Europe.
We can only guess what all that pumping in and out of market-‐
have occurred in the Netherlands over time. This means that the
heavier the tremors in Groningen become – which has been the
case since the nineties -‐ the more this statistical boundary will
slide up. So who knows if Bergermeer will be struck by heavier
-‐
son for us to say: Bergen does not want the gas storage.’
against the storage facility?
-‐
municated clearly. The depleted gas field below Bergermeer
presented a substantial business opportunity so I understand
them wanting to capitalise on that. TAQA simply played by the
more disturbed by the attitude of the national government. This
thereafter, we filed our criticism of the plan due to the risk of
tremors near the built-‐up areas of Alkmaar and Bergen. Our
argument was that it is OK for the central government to allow
a high-‐risk economic activity, but that this may never come
at the expense of the safety of local residents. But a letter of
intent had already been signed by TAQA and the ministry as
the storage site supposedly fitted in with the vague gas hub
strategy of the government. As a small municipality, there is
not really that much you can do about that. The arrangement
for government coordination, in which decision-‐making powers
are shifted from the municipality to the national government
for large land-‐use projects of this kind, came into force a few
months later. That really fuelled our distrust. Did we actually
still have any say whatsoever about the things happening in our
backyard?’
The court case was expensive,
but it did enable us to give
Bergenaren a voice’
Alwin Hietbrink is a former city councillor of Bergen and served on its municipal council as alderman for spa-
facility in 2008, feeling that the safety risks were being downplayed. The various reports stating that the
probability of earthquakes was only slight did nothing to alleviate that feeling. Hietbrink and concerned resi-
dents of Bergen turned to the country’s highest court, the Council of State, to stop the gas storage.
19. 19INTERVIEWINTERVIEW
Alwin Hietbrink,
former GroenLinks Alderman of the municipality of Bergen
Bergermeer
is a seismically
unstable area
Would you have still approached the Council
of State with the knowledge that is available
today?
and ask the Council of State to rule on this. It is impossible for a
municipality to believe that the safety of citizens is being com-‐
promised but at the same time not act on this. We wanted to
give concerned residents a voice. But in the context of the crisis
and recovery act, the municipality was not able to launch any
further appeals. There was a committee of concerned citizens
who also joined the efforts to bring the case before the Council
of State. In the end, the trial and research costs amounted to
small municipality as Bergen. Which individual can afford such
a sum? We lost, yes. And there was also a substantial chance
we would lose, but we carefully discussed this in the municipal
council. Who else would have stood up for the interests of con-‐
cerned Bergenaren? This is the only way in which they were able
to take a stand and generate political attention.’
Which parties do you feel should have
approached this project differently?
a communications course. In addition, it is unwise to change
the procedures en route, as was done with the arrangement
for government coordination. It reinforces the mistrust people
have of the government. Depriving local authorities of powers
also means depriving citizens of their voice. As the municipal
council, we felt like we were doing something wrong, while in
fact we were simply defending the interests of our inhabitants
-‐ a primary government task. For large land-‐use schemes, there
should be an ombudsman for citizens who can bring matters
to the attention of Dutch parliament. I also noticed that it was
-‐
ment. We eventually found a Norwegian expert to do this. But
in the Netherlands, no one was willing to; apparently, everybody
knows everybody else in the industry.’
20. 20
Being the initiator of the gas hub strategy, are
you happy with the realization of the largest
North-West European gas junction in Alk-
maar?
hurdles on the road to make things acceptable for the residents
and the municipalities and also to get the business case going.
I believe the targets of the gas hub strategy have not lost their
value and the Bergermeer is a definite proof. When I took office
problems relating to natural gas would present themselves
simultaneously. The importance of gas as a source of energy for
the industries and households was expected to increase. As a
result, the integration of the energy market in North-‐Western
Europe has become more important. In addition, the diversi-‐
fication of the supply from and to Europe was also becoming
more important, so that our supply would be less vulnerable. At
the same time it became clear that the availability of Dutch gas
such as: how can we see to it that our know-‐how on gas and
the infrastructure of gas in the Netherlands will remain relevant
and develop it any further? How can we ensure to make the
most of our geographical location? After Rehden in Germany,
Bergermeer is the largest storage in Europe and the largest
storage accessible to the open market. This is a good thing for
the reliability the Netherlands have in the field of gas.’
In 2011 your International Energy Agency sug-
gested that a Golden Age of Gas was to be
expected. Now, four years later, what is the
state of the golden gas age? What does this
mean for the Netherlands?
one single gas market. In the United States a golden age of gas
has definitely dawned. The gas prices are low as a result of a
lot of domestic mining and easy transport. The same goes for
Russia; they produce a lot for domestic use. In the developing
economies of Asia gas plays a smaller part since the transport
and storage of gas is not so easy as with coal and oil. In Europe
the use of gas has recently got into a scrape as the result of a
-‐
sions. The use of gas over here has returned to the level of the
fuel during the transition towards a sustainable energy sys-‐
from sustainable sources of energy. If we wish to develop in
that direction, an increase in the use of gas should be the most
obvious choice. Nuclear energy is a problem in the Netherlands
and oil and coal are greater pollutants. Gas will continue to play
a vital role in Europe and Gasopslag Bergermeer will contribute
to a guaranteed supply.’
At the moment gas and gas mining have a ne-
gative reputation in the Netherlands, but also
in general there is a growing social resistance
against large energy projects. Is this an inter-
national phenomenon?
The “not in my backyard” discussions are spreading to “not on
billion people on the planet. They will all wish to have access to
electricity. If, on top of that, we also want to decrease the use
A good example of a shrewd
on large-scale and
As Minister of Economic Affairs in 2009, Maria van der Hoeven launched a gas hub strategy for
the Netherlands. For various reasons Gas Storage Bergermeer harmonized with this strategy. Since
2011 Van der Hoeven has been executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris.
For Europe as a whole, too, she regards the Bergermeer gas storage as a major energy junction.
21. 21INTERVIEWINTERVIEW
Maria van der Hoeven,
Executive Director International Energy Agency
of fossil fuels, we will have to allow for more windfarms, solar
panels, hydro-‐electric power stations, terrestrial heat instal-‐
lations and other sustainable solutions. At the same time, there
are also some developments dealing with energy and electricity
issues in a more systematic way. For instance, some architects
industries and residents can be linked to the energy produced by
the city as a whole. An international gas storage as in Berger-‐
meer is also a part of shrewd, systematic and efficient thinking
about large-‐scale use of energy and supply.’
What lessons can the Netherlands learn from
foreign countries as regards the planning of
large-scale energy projects of public interest?
debates are being held or where legislation is adjusted in order
to let the local people cash in on the yields of energy pro-‐
jects. These developments have, of course, been inspired by
experiences in the United States where different laws for the
extraction of minerals and the use of land apply. If you own the
land, you are automatically the owner of whatever lies under
your plot. As a result, people can take direct advantage of the
production of shale gas. Europe has different traditions in the
field of mining legislation. Here the State is the only authority
which has the right to collect public proceeds. I believe new
mechanisms will be needed in order to let the local population
participate in the development of energy projects. This may
have a significant impact on the way in which future energy
projects will be planned.’
Gas will continue
to play a vital role
in Europe
22. 22
Why did Amoco contact your water board at
the time for its plans to mine gas?
The soggy plots of polderland which emerged were so unusable
as farmland that the farmers did not want them. They remained
the property of the polder district and were leased out to the
farmers by lot, for instance, for stalling hay in summertime. That
of the sixties Amoco wanted to carry out a test drill for gas on
these Loterijlanden. This was allowed. I became a dike warden in
driller of Shell, visited me at home one Saturday afternoon to
discuss the matter. We had no idea that the gas was contained
in a porous stone stratum as he explained to us and we imagined
a year.’
Did the State, the council or the province lay
down any conditions for the drilling by Amo-
co?
in the matter at all, that is how things were in those days. We
were concerned, even then, that the natural environment should
be left intact as much as possible. In the seventies the Berger-‐
meer already boasted rare meadow birds, ruffs for example. We
formulated in French and still dated from the days of Napoleon.
At the time I was never ever contacted by anyone of the State
on the gas mining in the Bergermeer. During the test drill-‐
ings Amoco used diesel engines and they caused a lot of noise.
They also just flared off the gas on the building site. After four
months they did take some measures to muffle the noise. When
invited us for an inspection in order to give the go-‐ahead. There
we were, three men of the polder board, walking the Amoco
site, helmets on our heads. We had no idea, but things looked
alright and so we gave our permission. De Wit literally raised his
hand and things started going at full speed. Of course, as a dike
warden I paid them regular visits to check on Amoco’s waste
water. Our cows used to drink from the ditches and we did not
want them to be polluted. We used to test the water in a basin.
If it was clean it could flow back into the polder, but dirty water
was disposed of. Every three months TAQA organizes a meeting,
and then they sometimes invite me to talk about those days.
Nowadays the procedure of that period can hardly be imagined
and fortunately times have changed.’
-‐
meer over a period of thirty, forty years and that, after this, the
land would be returned to its natural state. Amoco, however,
was taken over by a division of BP and this was again taken
over by TAQA. How could our polder board have suspected in
site? We were not happy about this, but I have always been
How could our polder board have
imagined in 1971 that, forty
years later, there would have
been a gas storage on this site?’
Jo Laan has been living in Alkmaar’s Groeneweg facing TAQA’s gas storage for forty years.
He is very much attached to the countryside. As the dike warden of the time, he signed in 1971,
Amoco for gas mining in the Bergermeer. In those days there was hardly any regulation.
23. 23INTERVIEWINTERVIEW
Jo Laan,
former Dike Warden living in the close vicinity of the gas storage
convinced that if The Hague wanted this, the new gas storage
would be allowed, no matter what. In my opinion it was no use
to oppose the decision and we and the community association
had better put some items on the agenda. For instance, noise,
any possible damage and any decrease in house value. TAQA has
confined the inconvenience to a minimum and decent contracts
were drawn up for any damage. Things have been better organ-‐
ized than in Groningen, but tremors are still a cause for concern.
Since the seventies we have sunk six centimetres. We knew
this could happen, but not that this would be accompanied by
tremors. When the gas field got exhausted the houses in the
Groeneweg stood shaking now and again during tremors. I do
not expect we will sink any further, for the gas storage has, on
the contrary, improved the subsoil pressure. There is, however,
sides is precision work. TAQA has given us a proper account of
how they intend to do this. What we were afraid of has been
made acceptable and presumably the storage site will, in future,
be invisible and we will finally have our view of the countryside
back again.’
View of the countryside
back again
24. How did SodM assess the planning for and
construction of Gas Storage Bergermeer?
that the trust in and reputation of an organisation or party
initiating a project plays an important role in our assessment.
Projects with a high risk and companies with a dubious reputa-‐
tion are subject to more scrutiny. Prior to our advice to the
TAQA’s gas storage in detail on aspects of safety, health and the
environment. Our three divisions which respectively focus on
technology, operational processes and the environment were
all involved in this. We have no fixed templates for assessments
because energy companies and spatial developments are not
the same. We employ about sixty full-‐time experts, which is
but a fraction of the in-‐house expertise of large oil companies.
Where necessary, we turn to external expertise. Regarding
seismic activity, we for example make use of the knowledge
access we have to the processes and best practices that are
present throughout the entire sector. Based on this, we advised
a traffic light system for accurately measuring seismic activities
at Bergermeer. Seismometers register the earth tremors during
the pumping in and out of gas. If these tremors exceed a certain
value, TAQA is obliged to take action. A risk management plan
has also been drawn up for this purpose. TAQA has consistently
taken our advices seriously and has implemented them.’
Can SodM intervene in accidents and earth-
quakes during gas production and gas stor-
age?
-‐
down the installation. But there is a limit to our mandate. As
inspector general, I cannot directly intervene in projects of great
societal significance such as the gas extraction in Groningen. In
such cases, we provide the minister with both solicited and un-‐
solicited advice. One of our advices for example was to reduce
the maximum production of gas in Groningen. But the extent to
which this maximum is actually reduced is ultimately a political
decision. Bergermeer does not involve gas extraction but gas
storage; the supervision in terms of safety and the environment
is the same. This means that the installations of TAQA, its op-‐
-‐
ports to us. Furthermore, we occasionally carry out announced
and unannounced inspections. While the wells were being drilled
and the plants were under construction our supervisors visited
on-‐site.’
How does the increasing attention to tremors
and earthquakes affect the work of SodM?
now more public and political attention for mining extraction.
When I started as inspector general, my mission was to hold the
today’s supervision suffice for tomorrow? We cannot guarantee
is our aim to ensure that companies extract or store gas in such
a manner that the prospects of this occurring are minimal. This
means we should not cosy up to the industry or companies. In
this way, each inspectorate has the task of making those risks
to society manageable. We are energetically looking for ways to
better perform our tasks using more and new expertise.’
Which developments in the gas sector does
SodM need to adapt to?
We must make societal
risks manageable’
-
zicht op de Mijnen, SodM) in September 2014. Sparked by the current social debate on gas, the role of
his organisation is shifting from supervisor working behind the scenes to inspector in the public eye;; a
shift to which SodM is seeking an appropriate response. Based on the sector-wide best practices that
-
mic activity at Gas Storage Bergermeer.
24
25. Harry van der Meijden,
Inspector General SodM
issuance, during the construction and in the operational phase.
In my position as inspector general, I have no opinion on the
government’s gas hub strategy but if it deems large-‐scale gas
projects important then the inspectorate must anticipate this.
Gas storage is relative new for the Netherlands, so we need to
approach this differently than gas extraction. At the same time,
we are noticing that as the gas fields become more depleted,
smaller organisations are capitalising on the market opportuni-‐
ties created by this. These are often new players that need to
be closely monitored. Aspects such as their financial stability,
focus on their operational capacity and processes in relation to
safety and the environment.’
Gas storage
relatively new
for the Netherlands
25INTERVIEWINTERVIEW
26. Discussing nature setoff claims
is often far more effective if
you do it in advance’
How important is nature in the Bergermeer for
the Netherlands?
A large part of the world population of, for instance, blacktailed
godwits, lapwings and redshanks comes to the Netherlands
for the breeding season and in part these birds settle on the
Bergermeer. The polder landscape boasts many herbal plants
and is alive with insects the birds like to eat. As the soil is so
soggy, the grass will not grow very fast, which makes it easy for
the chicks to get about. The overall population of meadow birds
and also their natural habitat is decreasing as a result of changes
in agriculture. So bird sanctuaries are becoming increasingly
important and they are of international significance. We manage
the Loterijlanden in the Bergermeer and when TAQA disclosed
its plans for the gas storage, we were afraid the landscape
would be affected. The landscape in the entire range of dunes
of North Holland is cluttered, and the Bergermeer polder is a
nice exception. We wanted to keep it that way.’
Apart from the municipality of Bergen,
Natuurmonumenten was one of the parties
taking legal action to the Council of State
the gas storage and what the pumping in and pumping out of
the gas might do to the soil. We were particularly concerned
about the digging activities for the mains and drills during the
construction period. For instance, we did not want TAQA to
drill in the Loterijlanden plot itself, but diagonally from a nearby
site. We did not want the drilling to happen during the breeding
season. We made these wishes clear to TAQA right from the
start. They listened to us during these talks and we openly said
that we would defend our wishes up to the Council of State
and TAQA understood. At the end of the day the Council ruled
against us arguing diagonal drilling would prove too costly and
an interruption of the drilling during the breeding season would
mean that the entire drilling period would take too long resulting
in various other undesirable effects. In spite of the ongoing
lawsuit we kept talking with TAQA about possible solutions if
the drilling proceeded anyway. TAQA offered to purchase more
hectares of setoff ground than they were legally liable to, and to
place them under Natuurmonumenten’s control. We also made
arrangements about the digging. The pipeline trajectories were
decided on in consultation, and the top layer of the polder with
its grasses and flowers was preserved and returned after the
pipes were in the ground.’
Did Natuurmonumenten use a different
approach than usual for this project?
It was also a novelty for Natuurmonumenten to have talks on
this subject. Our people are happy with the results. TAQA has
encroached upon nature in good faith and they have invested
time and money in the compensation. Staying in touch is bet-‐
ter than not talking to one another. In my experience the talks
between TAQA and Natuurmonumenten have always been open,
we also pursue the same two-‐track policy as with TAQA. In the
past, for example, Natuurmonumenten used to protest against
a zoning scheme or a specific application for a concession with
to a project, we try to find out if we can gain some profit for
nature and landscape in concord with the initiator. This is often
far more effective.’
Krijn Jan Provoost was the North Holland region manager of Natuurmonumenten, the nature preserving
organization in charge of the Loterijlanden under which gas is laid up by TAQA. Natuurmonumenten
protested against the storage and took legal action as far as the Council of State. They lost the case, but
managed to make proper arrangements with TAQA about nature conservation in the Bergermeer area.
26
27. Krijn Jan Provoost,
District Manager of Natuurmonumenten (Dutch National Trust)
Habitat
for meadow birds
of international
importance
What lessons has Natuurmonumenten learnt
from its involvement in the gas storage?
the Council of State. But if the project carries on anyhow, it is
wise to have come to an agreement on nature setoff before-‐
of how we should conduct a dialogue with companies. Of
respect I see power companies and initiators of large planning
environment, the neighbours and the company’s own employ-‐
ees, is becoming increasingly important. The Rotterdam dock in-‐
dustry, for instance, wants to be the most sustainable harbour in
the world. These things make it easier to discuss setoff claims.
Natuurmonumenten also has regular dealings with Hoogovens.
They do stick to the environment laws, but, of course, their
activities have an impact on their surroundings. They talk with
us to see what can be done about this.
A two-‐track policy can also be problematic. Rijkswaterstaat
invited Natuurmonumenten to talks about the construction of
the Blankenberg tunnel, a project we are dead set against, to
see how this could best be fitted in. If you accept this invitation,
this will convey the impression that you have already accepted
the intervention and, as a result, local environmentalists and
residents will be suspicious of us. We are an association and we
will always have to allow for our supporters’ opinions. On top of
that Rijkswaterstaat stated in advance that the fitting-‐in must
not cost too much. We are not taking part in such a kind of pro-‐
cedure. TAQA has never acted this way. On the contrary, they
ask Natuurmonumenten to insist with the Province, which has
to allocate the nature reserves, that the setoff area is actually
laid down.’
27INTERVIEWINTERVIEW
