Netherlands and coal

The U.S. Geological Survey indicates that there is no coal mining within The Netherlands. However, in 2006 approximately 27 million tonnes of coal was moved through the port of Rotterdam, a major European transport hub. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that no coal is consumed in the country. The British Geological survey states that over 40,000 tonnes of anthracite coal and nearly 7.6 million tonnes of "other" coal were extracted in the Netherlands in 2010.

Coal imports
According to the British Geological survey, the Netherlands imported 19 million tonnes of coal in 2010.

Proposed Coal-Fired Power Stations

 * Eemshaven Power Station is proposed by RWE to have an installed capacity of 1600 megawatts and to come on line by after 2011/2012. It has been approved for construction. On its website, RWE states that "the authorities in charge at the Eemshaven location in Groningen province are currently processing the request for approval (MER) for building the plant. RWE submitted the records in January 2007." RWE lists it as one of its major capital investments at a cost of 2.2 billion euros. As of 2012 the plant is scheduled to begin operation by 2014 and will be partially fuelled by biomass. The 50 hectare site is located at Eemshaven port.


 * Magnum IGCC Power Station – Eemshaven is proposed by Nuon to have an installed capacity of 1300 megawatts and cost 1 billion euros to construct. The plant, which was originally proposed in September 2005, has been approved to run on syngas derived from coal. Power in Europe noted in Spetember 2007 "Nuon decides to build this plant in phases because of doubling of costs relating to construction and equipment for gasification plant. A 1.2-GW natural gas-fired combined cycle plant will be built first (completion foreseen 2011), followed by coal/biomass gasification plant, replacing natural gas with syngas. Nuon expects within two years to take a decision on the construction of the gasification plant." The newsletter noted that the "the station is to be CO2-capture-ready at latest by 2013." In 2011 it was reported that the power station will be ready at the end of 2012, but that Nuon was postponing coal gasification technology until 2020.


 * Maasvlakte Power Station (E.ON) in Rotterdam is proposed by E.ON to have an installed capacity of 1100 megawatts with a njotional commissioning date of 2011/12. In April 2008 Power in Europe noted that "E.ON says all it needs to proceed is a natural habitat license and a construction licence, which it hopes to get in early 2008. Greenpeace asks Council of State to strike down environmental licenses granted to E.ON Benelux for this project." E.ON started constructing the new coal-fired/biomass power station in April 2008, and it is scheduled to go on line in 2013. At the same time the the TNO-CATO test installation for trapping CO2 from flue gasses went on line at the site, with a goal to move on a commercial scale from 2020.


 * Maasvlakte Power Station (Electrabel) in Rotterdam is proposed by Electrabel to have an installed capacity of 800 megawatts and run on coal and biomass. The notional commissioning date is 2011 or 2012. It is a part of a 3,500 megawatt generation plan by the company which will cost 3.5 billion euros. The project was approved in December 2007 and is proposed to be run on up to 80% biomass. Electrabel began construction of the plant in 2009, scheduled for completion in 2013.


 * Geertruidenberg Power Station is proposed by Essent to have an installed capacity of 800-1100 megawatts. The project has been approved and will be fired predominantly with coal and 30% by biomass. In May 2008 Essent canceled the proposal stating that it was because it had received limited emission rights for carbon dioxide.

Europe and coal

 * Austria and coal
 * Belgium and coal
 * Bulgaria and coal
 * France and coal
 * Germany and coal
 * Greece and coal
 * Hungary and coal
 * Italy and coal
 * Norway and coal
 * Poland and coal
 * Slovakia and coal
 * United Kingdom and coal

Background information

 * International Energy Agency, "Coal in Netherlands in 2005", International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
 * International Energy Agency, "Netherlands", International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
 * U.S. Geological Survey, Netherlands 1994-2006
 * European Environment Agency, European Pollutant Emission Register. (This has a list of power stations and their current emissions).