Netherlands Minister for Infrastructure and Environment, Wilma Mansveld, and various parties from industry and research institutions have signed an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Safety Deal. The parties, united within the National LNG Platform, have agreed to focus on the safe transport and use of LNG in the Netherlands as part of the National LNG Safety Program.
The Rhine and Wadden Green Deal (2012) was an initial step in a collaboration between government and companies, to accelerate the introduction of LNG as a transportation fuel, for both land and marine activity. Collaboration partners formed the National LNG Platform at that time. The goal of the program is to come through knowledge to appropriate legislation, for example, about the authorization of use and storage of LNG by tanker and bunker stations.
State Secretary Mansveld is striving for a balance between safe use and storage of LNG and conditions that are not unduly restrictive for the transport sector. She considers The Netherlands a leader in the use of LNG and has placed importance on building knowledge and regulations together with companies, governments, research institutes and fire protection services. The Safety LNG Deal is one of the first examples of her push for sustainable safety.
LNG is cleaner than traditional transportation fuels and therefore helps to reduce air pollution, such as particulate matter. Engines that run on LNG are also quieter.
The National LNG Safety Programme is funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (€350 000), the Ministry of Economic Affairs (€350 000), the Ministry of Security and Justice (€90 000) and the corporate sector (€350 000).
(Source: Nationaal LNG Platform)
