Higher gas prices due to the war in the Middle East are prompting calls from politicians to postpone the closure of all three Dutch coal-fired power stations, scheduled for 2030.
Gas and coal-fired power stations are important standbys when there is not enough wind or sun to produce electricity. Coal-fired power stations in particular have been running at full capacity in recent weeks because of the inflated gas prices.
Leader of coalition partner CDA Henri Bontenbal proposed keeping the three power plants open during a debate on the crisis earlier this week. “Given the choice, people would prefer polluting electricity on a temporary basis to no electricity at all,” broadcaster NOS quoted him as saying.
The coal-fired power stations must be adapted to run on biomass, he said, but for the time being, the option of coal should not be ruled out.
Far-right opposition parties PVV, JA21 and FvD are in favour of postponing the closure, as is coalition partner VVD. However, Bontenbal’s proposal has embarrassed prime minister Rob Jetten, who has always supported shutting the plants down.
Then-climate minister Jetten put a stop to biomass plant subsidies in 2022 because of their long-term damage to the environment.
Left-wing green opposition party Progressief Nederland also rejected the proposal, saying it is “the usual fossil fuel knee-jerk reaction in times of crisis”.
“Adapting coal-fired power stations to biomass is a huge investment when we should go all out for green energy produced nationally, and the insulation of homes,” MP Sjoukje van Oosterhout said.
Dyonne Rietveld, director of the Uniper owned coal-fired power station on the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam, said that the closure of the station must be decided on soon.”It is irreversible, so the cabinet can’t put in a last minute call to keep it open. That capacity will be gone,” she told NOS.
Far right parties have also called for Groningen’s gas fields to be reopened to head off potential energy shortages.
