Dutch govt urged to introduce investment allowance ‘to avoid risks to energy security’

Oil and gas company Neptune Energy has called on the Dutch government to introduce an investment allowance in its plans to raise levies on energy companies to avoid risks to the country’s energy security and net-zero targets.

According to Neptune Energy’s statement on Thursday, the government intends to significantly increase levies under the Mining Act for the energy sector in 2023 and 2024, with additional tax revenues helping finance support for Dutch homes and businesses facing high energy bills.

While recognising decisive action by the government is needed to support households and businesses with high energy costs, Neptune is urging Ministers to include an investment allowance in its tax plans, similar to measures already in place in Norway and the UK.

Neptune says that, in recent years, investment in the Dutch North Sea has fallen to only a fraction of that in the Norwegian and UK North Seas. As a result, substantially higher levels of investment will be required in the near term to achieve anything near the increased gas production potential as outlined by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

As the largest offshore gas producer in the Dutch North Sea, Neptune plans to invest around $1 billion in the Netherlands over the next five years to support energy security. With an appropriate fiscal regime in place, the company says it could invest a further $1 billion, including in lower carbon developments, repurposing existing offshore infrastructure to support carbon capture and storage and hydrogen production.

Neptune Energy’s Managing Director in the Netherlands, Lex de Groot, said: “It is absolutely right that the government supports households and businesses facing higher energy costs. However, it is important that the mechanism they choose to deliver this support does not compromise Dutch energy security or net zero goals by making the Netherlands uncompetitive for global energy investors, which have a choice where to put their capital.

“By introducing an investment allowance, the government would make the Dutch North Sea competitive for investors against other countries that already have such allowances in place.

“The Netherlands has huge potential energy resources, but increased investment is crucial if we are to maintain energy security and avoid customers being exposed to less secure, higher cost and higher carbon energy in the future.”

Earlier this month, Neptune said it would extend the period of higher gas production from the Duva offshore field in Norway, which would supply enough gas to heat a further 550,000 UK homes per day.