Gas decree must be clearer: region asks court for ruling
At the request of the regional authorities, a judge presiding over preliminary relief proceedings will hear the case regarding the 2023/2024 gas allocation decision this coming Thursday in The Hague. The region believes that the gas decree is gas decree and, in certain respects, even contradictory. In mid-October, the region announced that it would appeal the decision and also seek a preliminary injunction.
Regional focus: Clarify the decision
The gas decree a far-reaching decision that affects residents’ rights. Gas extraction from the Groningen field causes damage, safety risks, and disruption. That is why the decision must be clear and consistent. However, the region finds the gas decree lacking in clarity and consistency gas decree had already pointed this out to the State Secretary when the draft decision was presented. The State Secretary has not acted on the region’s comments.
Current decision leaves residents with many unanswered questions
The State Secretary has now decided that no gas may be extracted from the Groningen field unless a cold spell sets in. The region believes that the State Secretary has not been clear about the amount of gas that may be extracted in such a case, how much production capacity would be required for that, and what consequences the State Secretary anticipates this would have for the reinforcement program. Residents, and certainly those living near the clusters, are entitled to expect clarity from the government.
Legal proceedings
The legal proceedings will begin with a hearing before the judge in preliminary relief proceedings on December 7 at 1:00 p.m. at the District Court in The Hague. Pending the hearing of the appeal before the Council of State, the judge in preliminary relief proceedings will decide whether the decision may remain in effect until then or whether it will be suspended.
Review of the gas decree
The Groningen authorities review the adoption decision for the next gas year on an annual basis. The appeal process is initiated by the Province of Groningen, the councils , Het Hogeland, Eemsdelta, Groningen, Oldambt, Westerkwartier, Veendam, Stadskanaal, Pekela, and Westerwolde, the Groningen Safety Region, and the Noorderzijlvest and Hunze en Aa’s water boards.