Dutch minister Kamp has presented his ideas on where in the Netherlands it might be possible to win shalegas. He has pointed out several locations throughout the country where he wants to research the possibilities, also close to the borders with Belgium and Germany. Though officially the Dutch government has not spoken out in favour or against shalegas, it seems the minister still believes in this irresponsible way of producing energy. The Dutch Greens lead the protest against shale gas in the Netherlands and already 150 local governments and eight provinces have declared they do no want shale gas in their region.
Dutch MEP Bas Eickhout (Groenlinks): “It is a shame the Netherlands are still focusing on shalegas. We are at the bottom of all lists regarding sustainable energy and now the Netherlands is showing its fossile face again with shalegas. Kamp claims this is all needed for the Dutch energymix, but what it is actually needed is a European Sustainable Energy Union. When Europe focusses on renewable energy, we will become less import dependent and then there is no need of scaring local communities with the dangerous fracking methods.”
His German colleague Sven Giegold, MEP (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen) adds: “Water pollution and other potentially harmful consequences of the fracking technology do not stop at borders. While the Green Minister of Ecology in North-Rhine-Westphalia, Johannes Remmel, has stopped all further test drillings for fracking in his federal country, people in the region are now concerned about the Dutch side of the border. We Greens on both sides of the border stand together against this dangerous technology and support the local protest initiatives in their struggle.”