Image via WikipediaThe top court in the Netherlands on Monday ordered the suspension of the Bergermeer gas storage project, the largest in Europe, citing objections by
environmentalists and local residents.
The project, which the government had already approved, faced strong
opposition locally because of fears that injecting gas into the depleted gas
field -- near Alkmaar in the country's northwest -- could cause strong earth
tremors.
The Council of State, the top court, ruled that the project must be
temporarily suspended, pending a final ruling, to avoid "irreversible
consequences."
"There is much resistance against this plan by the government," the council
said in its preliminary ruling.
The Bergermeer gas storage project was intended to store up to 4.1 million
cubic metres of gas when completed, and would be operated by Abu Dhabi National
Energy Company, the majority owner.
TAQA, which is 75 percent owned by the Abu Dhabi government, has a 60 percent
stake in the 800 million euro ($1,135,000)Bergermeer project, while Energie
Beheer Nederland BV, a Dutch state-owned gas company, owns the remainder.
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