1. The incoming Dutch coalition government plans to expand offshore natural gas extraction and nuclear energy production to reduce dependence on unreliable countries.
2. The government aims to stick to international climate goals without adding national restrictions, focusing on building reserves of gas and critical commodities.
3. Plans include increasing offshore wind and scaling up gas production in the North Sea, while committing to building new nuclear reactors and keeping the Borssele nuclear power plant open.
The Dutch coalition government plans to expand offshore natural gas extraction and nuclear energy production to reduce dependence on unreliable countries. This decision is in response to challenges faced after losing access to Russian gas due to the Ukraine war. The government aims to build reserves of gas and critical commodities through long-term contracts for natural gas and scaling up production in the North Sea while keeping the Groningen gas field closed.
The draft pact also emphasizes a commitment to international climate goals but does not add national restrictions. The plans include continuing the operation of the Borssele nuclear power plant, constructing two new reactors, and possibly multiple small reactors through public-private partnerships. The government also announced plans to build four new nuclear power plants by 2040, with a technical feasibility study underway for the deployment of two new reactors at the Borssele site.
Currently, the Netherlands has one operational reactor at the Borssele site, producing 482MW of electricity. The government aims to prioritize offshore wind expansion while deprioritizing construction of new wind turbines on land. These initiatives are part of efforts to enhance energy security and reduce reliance on external sources.