Dutch members of parliament (MPs) on Tuesday submitted a series of motions to the government aimed at strengthening gas supply security and calling for emergency gas reserves, crisis access to cushion gas, and the nationalisation of storage sites.
One motion urged government to ensure emergency provisions strictly benefit Dutch consumers, and that they do not service regional demand. The government announced plans in July to develop a 5TWh emergency reserve in 2026.
Another motion asked government to draw up plans to make 4.5bn–6bn m³ of cushion gas at the Norg storage site available in a crisis, with clear arrangements on ownership, compensation and refilling. There has been uncertainty about the future of Norg, whose size is making it increasingly economically unviable for its owner Nam. Dutch industry associations in November proposed turning Norg cushion gas into a reserve, which would head off the need for building emergency stocks.
The government was also urged this week to press the EU Council for a funding system in which member states pay for cushion gas reserves and supply security measures based on their consumption and import levels.
Another motion flagged historically low stocks for this point in winter — 19pc full on Tuesday morning, GIE transparency platform data show — and argued that private ownership leaves government with insufficient control over fill levels. This motion urged the government to draw up a plan ensuring adequate stocks next winter, and to consider options such as nationalisation.
A fifth motion requested a government study into the effects of major gas exporting countries partially or fully reducing supplies to the Netherlands in 2026-27. It asked for scenario analysis and impact assessments for households and businesses, and for findings to be sent to parliament this year.
