Page 14 - FSUOGM Week 35 2022

FSUOGM POLICY FSUOGM

Dutch city of The Hague asks EU for more

time to phase out Russian gas

NETHERLANDS THE Dutch city of The Hague is seeking a tem- force at the start of next year would be signifi-
porary exemption from EU sanctions against cantly costlier than the city’s current agreement
EU sanctions require Russia so it can have more time to replace Rus- with Gazprom.
that governments and sian gas supplies, city authorities said on August The European Commission has not com-
other public bodies end 25. mented on the matter.
existing contracts for EU sanctions require that governments and The Netherlands has been struggling with
gas supply from Russia. other public bodies end existing contracts for gas reduced gas volumes from Russia since Dutch
supply with Russian companies by October 10. gas trader GasTerra refused to comply with
The Hague has tried to obtain alternatives to gas a Kremlin decree on paying bills in rubles
supply from Russia, having held EU-wide ten- and had its supply cut off at the end of May. A
ders in June and July, but it has failed to attract number of utilities have continued to receive
any bids from other suppliers. In a letter to the Russian gas, although The Hague is the first to
European Commission, city council member have said it will seek an exemption from EU
Saskia Bruines said that individual talks with sanctions.
suppliers would be bound to lead to an agree- The country enjoys access to gas supply from
ment eventually, but not before the October Norway and its other neighbours, and also
deadline. imports LNG. It is looking to build new LNG
“We will ask for an exemption for our current import terminals and expand the existing Gate
arrangement until January 1, 2023 to guarantee regasification facility, but so far it has held off
the safety of supply and to facilitate negotiations,” on revising plans at its largest domestic source
Bruines said. She said she was confident that the of gas, the 450-bn cubic metre Groningen field.
temporary exemption would be granted, given The earthquake-causing field has its production
The Hague has demonstrated it cannot find an capped at 7.6 bcm per year in the current gas
alternative supplier during the tender process. year, and this is due to fall to 2.8 bcm in 2022-
But she said that any new contract entering into 2023. ™

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 35 02•September•2022