The news that the Senate is in favor of the rapid closure of the gas tap has a major impact in Groningen. These are the first reactions.
At the proposal of the VVD, a majority in the Senate of BBB, PVV, JA21 and several small factions postponed the law requiring the closure of the gas tap in Groningen. The decision comes as a big surprise and causes bewildered reactions from State Secretary Hans Vijlbrief of Mining and parties such as SP, Groenlinks-PvdA, D66, CDA and Volt.
Groningen interest groups react with shock. Chairman Coert Fossen of the Groningen Soil Movement (GBB) says he is angry and combative. “This is very bad. The tap could have been closed permanently after today, but this again causes uncertainty in Groningen. Many people now think: see, here we go again. I can imagine the turnips here are done.”
‘Groningers just want clarity’
Fossen does not understand how the Senate could come to this decision. “A large majority in the House of Representatives was in favor of closing as quickly as possible. The picture was very clear, the tap could even be closed earlier. I would be very disappointed if this decision by the Senate leads to a long delay. Groningers just want clarity.”
Chairman Jan Wigboldus of the Groninger Gasberaad has only just heard the news. “This is most astonishing. I haven’t even had time to be angry yet.” Actually, Wigboldus had no longer even counted on this possibility. “I thought: there is consensus, this is a done race.”
‘Then you really have been living under a rock’
Both Fossen and Wigboldus criticize the security of supply that Senator Caspar van den Berg (VVD) talks about. “A bullshit argument. Every time, security of supply is thrown up like a smokescreen,” says Fossen. “Apparently, security of supply outweighs the safety of the people of Groningen. Then you have really been living under a rock for the past year.”
Wigboldus: “This is very bad news for the people of Groningen. I am very disappointed about this, because you are turning the whole thing upside down again and causing a lot of unrest among Groningen residents. Terrible.”
Tags: Groningen furious postponement closing gas tap disappointed bad news
