HVC Polanen Monster granted authorisation for operations involving radioactive materials
HVC Aardwarmte Polanen B.V. has been granted authorisation for operations involving naturally occurring radioactive materials which the company will conduct at a new geothermal energy plant at Madeweg 43 in Monster. The ANVS has granted a licence for these operations. Interested parties have the right to appeal against this licensing decision until midnight on 18 October 2024.
Naturally occurring radioactive materials in transported water
HVC Aardwarmte Polanen B.V. (HVC) operates a geothermal energy plant at the site in Monster. This plant extracts hot water from deep underground, which is used to heat greenhouses, for example Small amounts of naturally occurring radioactive materials may be brought to the surface along with the hot water during HVC’s pumping process. These materials can accumulate in plant components and filters, causing them to become radioactive. The ANVS has therefore informed HVC that it must take radiation protection measures.
HVC must guarantee safety
HVC must guarantee the safety of workers and the surroundings of the geothermal energy plant. The measures which the company must implement include:
- Installing concrete blocks to shield the site where hot water is pumped to the surface;
- Placing fencing around the site to ensure it cannot be accessed by unauthorised persons;
- Storing waste containing radioactive materials in a special storage facility;
- Having radioactive components and instruments cleaned by a specialised company;
- Ensuring that radioactive waste is transported to a specialised waste processor within two years. In the case of HVC, the transportation is usually made to Mineralz Maasvlakte B.V.
HVC must guarantee the safety of workers and the surroundings of the geothermal energy plant. The measures which the company must implement include: • Installing concrete blocks to shield the site where hot water is pumped to the surface; • Placing fencing around the site to ensure it cannot be accessed by unauthorised persons; • Storing waste containing radioactive materials in a special storage facility; • Having radioactive components and instruments cleaned by a specialised company; • Ensuring that radioactive waste is transported to a specialised waste processor within two years. In the case of HVC, the transportation is usually made to Mineralz Maasvlakte B.V.
If you are an interested party and you are directly affected by our decision to grant this licence, you have the right to appeal against our licensing decision (in Dutch) until midnight on 18 October 2014. You can also lodge an appeal if you cannot reasonably be held responsible for not submitting a statement of opinion before. The deadline for submitting a statement of opinion passed on 31 July without us receiving any responses of this kind.
If you wish to appeal, you should submit a notice of appeal to the Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State. You can do this by post or through the digital service desk of the Council of State. You can also apply for preliminary relief. This ensures that the licence does not take effect until after your application has been reviewed.
Would you like to find out more?
Please read the official announcement (in Dutch) in the Government Gazette.