Correspondence made public: Vijlbrief was surprised by its own small print. Can we really not get out from under that pilot light? ‘Okidoki, clear, thanks’

This is evident from email and WhatsApp correspondence that the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) released on the basis of an appeal to the Open Government Act (Woo). This makes it clear that Vijlbrief himself only saw it coming recently and was also unsure about the rules.

Groningen anger flared up

The whole of Groningen stood on its hind legs when the ministry announced on Monday, January 8, that the incoming frost made it necessary to open the gas tap slightly again after it had been ‘permanently’ closed in October. At the time, the promise was that Groningen gas would only be used in the event of prolonged and extreme winter cold.

Groningen was overwhelmed: this was not the agreement! Provincial Councils met for an emergency debate and Groningen MPs also reacted angrily. Vijlbrief expressed regret about all the emotions that his pilot decision aroused in the earthquake province. But he also stated that the rules left him no other choice and that Groningen should have known that.

The State Secretary was not clear about the exception provision

However, the messages now released make it clear that the State Secretary was also not completely clear about exactly which exception provisions were included in the so-called determination decision that sealed the closure of the Groningen field.

It was not until Saturday afternoon, January 6, that the State Secretary was informed by his officials that two of the closed gas wells in Groningen would probably have to be turned on again on Monday. The KNMI weather forecasts show that the ‘average effective 24-hour temperature’ will then drop below -6.5 degrees: the level at which the tap must be opened again to prevent winter gas shortages.

EZK still thinks that this will blow over over the weekend. The frost is already subsiding slightly, and the average daily temperature, calculated over three days, is only a fraction below the limit. “I am still hopeful that inflation will not really be necessary, but we have to initiate all steps now,” the top official responsible texts Vijlbrief.

KNMI’s forecast on Sunday dashed good hopes

The KNMI forecast on Sunday comes late, to the annoyance of the same EZK official. “It’s annoying,” he texts the State Secretary at half past nine. ‘Last night’s dataset (i.e. Saturday, ed.) shows -6.43.’ But no, fifteen minutes later the sobering message from the KNMI arrives: ‘-6.63 unfortunately,’ the official texts.

Vijlbrief is still optimistic on Sunday: ‘Still a chance tomorrow, right?’ “No,” his official answers: “At 11 a.m. NAM will really put things into action. This morning’s temperature will be the final decision.’ The State Secretary and his officials agreed on Sunday evening that the House (by letter), the province and earthquake municipalities will be informed the next morning.

The further weather forecasts are favorable. So Vijlbrief responded laconically on Sunday to the message that NAM is going to start the pilot light. ‘Well. But they have to take it off again on Tuesday. Hopefully they realize that. I report to the House: 1 day!’

Small amount of gas extraction, big fuss in Groningen

According to the State Secretary, this is manageable: one day of production at pilot light level in two wells amounts to a ‘negligible’ amount of gas. Yet he probably suspects that even a little bit can cause a big fuss in Groningen. Vijlbrief asks with increasing emphasis whether he really can’t do anything about it.

Where exactly does that average 24-hour temperature come from, the State Secretary asks his civil servant in subsequent messages. Does it come from its own protocol to the adoption decision, or ‘does this follow from a European rule?’ “In short,” he asks bluntly: “No discretionary room for me?” to set aside that rule as a responsible minister.

The answer is no, but even on Monday afternoon – when the pilot light has already been turned on and anger is flaring up in Groningen – Vijlbrief is still not sure: ‘Pay attention. I want to be 100% sure that the adoption decision forces me to intervene after just one day of cold.’

Not a long extreme winter, but a three-day average

Yes, his own small print also bites the State Secretary in the nose. That three-day average now appears to be something completely different from a long and extreme winter. A flash of frost front also sets the pilot light in motion. His own officials wrote it down, but, partly due to European regulations, they did not respond to Vijl’s letter until January 15, a full week later.

‘Hans’, an official points to a European regulation that obliges each Member State to ensure sufficient capacity in the event of ‘disruption’ to the gas infrastructure to meet the total gas demand ‘during one day of exceptionally high gas demand’, as is statistically the case at most once. occurs every twenty years.

However, when closing the Groningen field, EZK translates this into the guideline that the pilot light must be activated if the KNMI predicts ‘an average effective daily temperature of -6.5 °C or colder within three days’. Statistically a much greater chance than once every twenty years. But Vijlbrief is satisfied a week later, when the tap is turned off and the emotions have calmed down: ‘Okidoki. Very bright. Thanks.’

Clash between The Hague bureaucracy and Groningen feelings

Ultimately, the whole issue is a final clash between the cool bureaucracy of The Hague and the troubled feelings in Groningen’s earthquake zone. When the pilot light goes out again at 12 noon on Tuesday, a total of 8.3 million cubic meters of gas has been produced: 4.1 million at the NAM Spitsbergen location near Zuidbroek (as of 9 a.m. on Monday morning) plus 4.2 million at the Scheemderzwaag location near Scheemda. (from Monday 11am).

Indeed: ‘negligible’ compared to the several billion cubic meters that were previously extracted from the Groningen soil every year, as Vijlbrief notes. But also: gas extraction, after The Hague had promised to leave the Groningen field alone.