The Public Prosecution Service (OM) is demanding a fine of 20 million euros in a criminal case against the Dutch Oil Company (NAM) for injecting large quantities of hazardous waste into the ground without proper permits at the empty underground gas fields in Borgsweer, Groningen.
- The Openbaar Ministerie (OM) demands a €20 million fine.
- NAM injected waste into empty gas fields in Borgsweer.
- The case involves actions between 2010 and 2022.
- The STAB found some actions lacked proper permits.
- Former Prime Minister Rutte was involved in influencing decisions.
- NAM admitted to making 'administrative errors'.
The OM accuses NAM of injecting waste that was generated during the processing of natural gas from the North Sea, which includes contaminated water treated as waste. Other accusations involve mishandling hazardous substances, which the OM claims provided NAM with over 5 million euros in undue benefits.
The independent research agency STAB found that NAM lacked the proper permits for most accusations. However, some allegations were nuanced, indicating that NAM either had the correct permits or the substances were not hazardous. The case primarily revolves around whether NAM had the appropriate permits for its actions.
“The core is not the question of whether environmental damage has occurred, but it is about transparency,”
— Public Prosecution Service (OM)
Originally reported by nos.nl as “OM eist boete van 20 miljoen euro in strafzaak tegen NAM over gevaarlijke stoffen” on 2025-09-23 14:23:00.
