Energy Administration in the Netherlands
| Author | J.A. Boeren |
| Published date | 01 June 1961 |
| Date | 01 June 1961 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/002085236102700205 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Energy Administration in the Netherlands
by
J.A. BOEREN
UDC 351.824.11 (492)
INTRODUCTION
In its Note of 3 July 1957 to the Second
Chamber, the Government supplied the fol-
lowing figures to explain its views concerning
the increased consumption of energy and its
policy in that respect.
ENERGY PRODUCTION AND REQUIREMENTS IN THE NETHERLANDS
(in thousands of metric tons of coal or the equivalent)
Considering these figures, it is not surpris-
be the inevitable outcome of events, and that
ing that the Government should have de-
was partly the case.
But when the matter
clared, elsewhere in its Note, that the Nether-
was examined more closely and a more
lands, like all Western European countries,
thorough knowledge of its different aspects
was faced with a structural problem with
obtained, the extent and manner in which the
regard to energy.
Government would have to view the future
The problem has become
of the
more acute since
energy problem were found to be of a
the Second World War. In the early post-
structural nature and, thence, permanent.
war years, it might be thought that the diffi-
This article will not describe t’he immediate
culties in connexion with the supply of ener-
and more remote aims of policy in the field
gy were due to wear and tear of the existing
of energy. Instead, an attempt will be made
production equipment, delayed expansion,
to give some idea of how, taking the present
shortage of raw materials and other causes.
public administrative structures into account,
Government action was thus considered to
that policy might be perfected by the central
170
authorities and how it is carried out.
For
of searching for mineral deposits. In the
that purpose, it will be useful to recall a few
twentieth century, the State reserved to it-
background facts that are still - and will
self the right to search, in certain parts of is
probably continue to be - of some signifi-
territory in 1903, and in the whole of its
cance.
European territory in 1908. There were two
I need
principal reasons for the measure. The first
not deal with every form and source
was that searching might thus be carried out
of energy. For instance, the wind used to be
systematically, and the second that the State
an important source of mechanical energy,
would be the c discoverer -
»
of
and guides will
any mineral
never be able to make foreign
visitors understand how vital
deposits found, so that later, when the stage
a part it played.
of
But those days
mining, wether by concession or by the
are gone for ever.
Again,
State itself, was reached, no other party
water-power has never been very important
in
might claim discoverer’s rights.
a flat country like the Netherlands. So,
this article will only deal with the primary
In 1924, the result of the State’s searches
sources of energy, namely coal, petrol and
was set forth in an Act which recorded the
natural gas (section I), the production and
State’s rights as the discoverer of the mineral
distribution of gas, a secondary source of
deposits found in certain areas. As petroleum
energy (section II), electricity, by far the
had been located in one of those areas, free-
most important
t
secondary form of energy
dom to search, which had meanwhile been
(section III), and the developing organiza-
restored, was again abolished. Apart from
tion of nuclear energy (section IV). The
that, the State has carried out no searches
data have mostly been taken from official
since 1924. Nevertheless, in 1933, boring to
publications which only provide incomplete
locate mineral deposits was again forbidden
information with regard to the actual opera-
in part of the country for a ten-year period
tion of the Administration and the back-
unless authorized by the competent Minister.
ground of the policy outlined. In view of
In practice, the Act limited freedom to search
the highly subtle nature of present problems
for the benefit of a private company which
in the field of energy administration, it is
obtained general permission to bore, and
obvious that only the most significant facts
thence a monopoly. At present, however,
and developments can be dealt with here.
freedom to search is in no way restricted by
law.
Section I
The States searches, from 1903 to 1923,
were conducted until 1918 by the Govern-
COAL, PETROLEUM AND
ment Department for Searching for Minerals
NATURAL GAS
(Dienst der Rijksop~sporing van Delfstoffen)
and from 1918 onwards by the Govern-
The duties and responsibilities of the public
ment Geological Department (Rijksgeolo-
authorities in connexion with getting coal,
gische Dienst), until an Act, which came into
petroleum and natural gas may best be des-
force on 1 January 1936, approved the estab-
cribed on the basis of current legislation on
lishment of the Geological Foundation, whose
the subject. I shall not refer to various pro-
objects are :
visions of private law, such as those concern-
ing ownership of the subsoil in relation to
(I) To conduct any searches for mineral
that of the surface, compensation for damage
deposits undertaken by the State;
done by mining, and discoverer’s rights. Al-
(ii) To provide assistance in the field of
though they are important to the Adminis-
economic geology, and -
to the extent con-
tration, which also has to comply with them,
sidered advisable by the Minister -
to super-
they are not primarily in the nature of rules
vise that field in order to ensure regard for
allotting duties and responsibilities.
the general interest when mineral deposits
Mining legislation distinguishes between
are searched for otherwise than by the State;
searching for mineral deposits and mining,
(iii) To keep the Minister informed of
and between the activities of private concerns
geological matters, particularly as regards
and those’ of the State or State-controlled en-
searching for mineral deposits and mining;
terprises.
( iv) To carry out geological research for
the Mines Department.
Starching
The Foundation is governed by regulations
The French Mines Act of 1810, still partly
drawn up by its Board and approved by the
in force, recognized the principle of freedom
Minister. The chairman and members of the
171
Board are appointed by the Minister. Half
State decided to take over the working of
its ordinary members are appointed after
mines was to elim~inate the foreign influence-
being nominated jointly by the Management
Two other reasons were inadequate working
of the Staatsmijnen (cf. below, under Coal)
by private enterprises and the attractiveness
and by the Council of the Association for the
of the income that might be obtained. The
Protection of the Interests of Private Col-
Act of 1901 provided that the working of
lieries. The Government grants the Founda-
collieries in a large part of the area where
tion an annual subsidy of an amount fixed
coal hand been found would be undertaken by
on each occasion by the Crown for a period
the State. In 1923, the area was extended,
of three years, thus placing the Foundation
so that the Staatsmijnen win more coal than
on a sound financial basis.
For the 1959-
the private companies.
1962 period the subsidy is one million florins
Each time
a year. The item is among the Ministry of
a mine was to be worked, the
Economic Affairs budget appropriations. The
fact would be stated in a Royal Order. The
Foundation is endowed with legal personality
Act provided that when a mine had been so
under private law and is not part of the cen-
specified, the State would become its owner.
tral
Surface
government structure. It may be looked
.owners would be compensated by a
upon as an autonomous institution with
single lump-sum payment not exceeding so
devolved
much
powers.
Its Management is ap-
per hectare as determined by the Act.
pointed by the Minister, and its staff by the
Executive Committee through delegation of
Two State mines are equipped with cok-
powers. The Act by which the Foundation
ing plants where more than 50 per cent of
the annual
was instituted specifies, in compliance with
production is coked. An impor-
the Accounts Act, that the State’s liability
tant boy-product of the manufacture of coke
for its administration shall be limited
is coke-oven
to any
gas.
The purified coke-oven
debts outstanding after its liquidation.
gas is partly used as a raw material by the
nitrogen factory attadhed to one of the mines.
The coking plants also provide several other
Coal
chemical products derived from coal which
are important for the chemical industry and
Since before 1900, eight mines have been
are, moreover, partly processed in the other
worked by private enterprises under conces-
chemical factories of the Staatsmijnen. The
sions granted by the Crown on the proposal
quantity and variety of their products make
of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in accor-
the Staatsmijnen one of the country’s leading
dance with the Mines Act of 1810. Between
industries.
They have further strengthened
them, they account for about 40 per cent of
their position abroad as well as at home by
the total Netherlands coal production which
taking over all the shares, or at least a ma-
has remained in the neighbourhood of twelve
jority holding, in the coal trade firms. A few
mi.llion tons per year. As these collieries only
private enterprises ’have thus been prevented
win lean coal, they are equipped with no
from controlling the wholesale trade.
secondary industries worth mentioning.
By an Act of 29 December 1928, the Staats-
After a concession has been...
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