The Netherlands Bergermeer gas storage project will proceed with its open season for storage capacity as planned, project operator TAQA said Friday, despite a court order from the Netherlands' highest administrative court suspending the project's development plans.
Europe's largest gas storage facility expects to award up to 1 billion cubic meters of storage capacity to launching customers for periods of from 4 to 10 years, beginning in 2014, but will offer only "limited capacity" at this time.
TAQA had originally planned to award the capacity in November this year but now expects delays of "a few weeks", and will announce capacity awards in December, a TAQA spokesman confirmed Friday.
An additional open season for longer-term storage capacity periods beginning 2015 will be held in 2012.
The time-line of the project's first open season was called into question following TAQA's announcement last week that drilling preparation would be delayed as a result of the suspension ruling.
Permits for the gas storage project were granted to project developer TAQA in May this year but opposition voiced during the subsequent appeal period prompted the Dutch Council of State to suspend all 'irreversible' preparation work until the end of the 6 month appeal period.
Shortly after the court ruling, a spokesman for TAQA told Platts, "We are fully confident that the permits will be upheld in the main proceedings. Our confidence is further supported by the fact that in May a large majority in the Dutch parliament approved the project after extensive discussions including a hearing with several experts."
The storage facility will add 4.1 billion cubic meters of seasonal storage capacity to the Netherlands, almost doubling the country's current storage capacity, and has formed a key part of the Dutch government's bid to become a gas 'roundabout' for North West Europe.
Those opposing the Bergermeer project voice concerns on the possibility of earth tremors and a negative environmental impact as a result of the development, according to the court ruling.
This is the second delay to the project on the grounds of environmental and safety concerns. Project developers had expected to obtain development permits by April 8, but further analysis of the geological impact was requested.
TAQA has not been given official notice of when a final verdict will be made, but sources suggest it may be as late as February or March 2012.
