Germany and the Netherlands ink a gas supply deal - Netherlands and Germany negotiate terms for gas deliveries.
In a move that has sparked controversy, the German federal government is planning to sign a gas extraction agreement with the Netherlands for natural gas extraction near the coastal town of Borkum. The new agreement period is set to commence in August 2025.
Despite opposition from conservation associations and ongoing judicial decisions concerning natural gas extraction activities in the area, the German government and energy authorities appear to be pushing forward with the plan to formalize the gas extraction agreement with the Netherlands. The Dutch energy company One-Dyas intends to extract gas from a drilling platform on Dutch territory, extending into German territory under the seabed.
The proposed gas extraction is taking place in the North Sea and the Wadden Sea, marine protected areas that have raised concerns from environmental groups. There are several court decisions related to the extraction of natural gas that are still pending, and some environmental organizations and the Lower Saxony state government have criticized the plan to sign the agreement.
However, Germany is also making significant strides in offshore wind energy near Borkum. The large "He Dreiht" offshore wind farm project, approximately 85 km northwest of Borkum, is underway. This project aims to supply renewable energy to 1.1 million homes and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025. This dual approach to energy supply suggests a broader energy transition strategy for the German government.
The negotiations on the intergovernmental agreement between Germany and the Netherlands have been ongoing since 2022. The SDN, a coalition of around 200 members including coastal municipalities, nature conservation associations, and organizations, has urged the federal government not to sign the agreement. SDN chairman Gerd-Christian Wagner has expressed concerns that further gas extraction projects and other economic ventures in the North Sea will become increasingly difficult to prevent if the agreement is signed.
The federal Minister of the Environment, Christian Meyer (Greens), has also raised concerns about the haste in this matter, stating that it is unusual. Former Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) had stated during his term in August 2024 that possible court rulings should be awaited before signing the agreement.
In summary, Germany plans to start a new gas extraction agreement with the Netherlands near Borkum in August 2025, despite opposition and legal challenges. Simultaneously, Germany is advancing offshore wind energy development near Borkum, emphasizing a broader energy transition strategy. The federal government appears committed to pursuing the gas extraction agreement near Borkum, balancing it with renewable energy expansion.
The German government's decision to sign a gas extraction agreement with the Netherlands, in the midst of ongoing legal challenges and opposition from conservation groups, raises questions about their employment policy concerning the energy sector, particularly in relation to the fossil fuel industry. Simultaneously, the government's advancement of offshore wind energy projects near Borkum, such as the "He Dreiht" wind farm, highlights their employment policy's commitment to finance and support the renewable energy sector, signifying a broader strategy for energy transition.
