Essent’s response to the Council of State’s decision regarding Eemshaven power station (24 August 2011)

On 24 August 2011, the Council of State ruled that the permits that were issued to RWE Power AG pursuant to the Natuurbeschermingswet (Nature Conservation Act) for the power plant in the Eemshaven should not have been allowed to be issued. These are permits that the former Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries and the Provincial Executives of Friesland and Groningen issued in 2008.

RWE/Essent consider the decision to be extremely disappointing, because following a lengthy and intensive process, there is still no absolute certainty about the completion of the most important energy project to the Netherlands. The power plant is the most modern power plant of its type and, because of its extremely high efficiency and the use of sustainable biomass, it will contribute significantly to reducing CO2 emissions and will play an important role in the supply of affordable power to more than 2 million households, companies and industries.

The Council of State clearly outlines that the decision in itself is not a reason for halting the construction of the power plant. The Province of Groningen has also clearly said that a building freeze is absolutely not desirable and/or necessary. Minister Verhagen (Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation) states that the results of further investigations will not stand in the way of new permits being issued for RWE/Essent’s power station in the Eemshaven.
We agree with these views.

For that matter, through this decision, an agreement was reached about a large number of investigations that will form part of the permit. However, further clarification is required on a number of points. We are currently examining how this can be achieved, but we do see good opportunities in order to enable the foregoing to reach a positive outcome.

Published: 24 August 2011