Ukraine war: Germany and Netherlands to drill for gas in North Sea after Russia cuts supply
- The controversial plan is not new, but has taken on urgency after Gazprom said it would halt flows to the Dutch over their refusal to pay in roubles
- The area is ecologically sensitive, and permits to drill there were previously refused
The Netherlands and Germany are to jointly drill for a new gas field in the North Sea, the Dutch government said on Wednesday, a day after Russia cut gas supplies to the country.
Deputy minister of mining Hans Vijlbrief “issued permits for the Dutch part today”, it said in a statement, adding that “an accelerated procedure for the required permits is under way” in Germany.
“The cabinet supports gas extraction in the North Sea in order, for example, to have sufficient gas to heat our houses,” the economics and climate ministry said.
The controversial plan to drill for gas 10 nautical miles (19km) offshore on the Dutch-German border is not new, but has taken on a new urgency since Russia’s Gazprom announced Tuesday it was halting all gas supplies to the Netherlands.
This came after Dutch energy firm GasTerra refused to pay in roubles following the Russian military offensive in Ukraine.
The German state of Lower Saxony a year ago decided not to issue permits for the drilling near the eco-sensitive islands of Schiermonnikoog and Borkum and Dutch environmental groups still have concerns.