09.10.2014 - Dutch Failure to Copy Norway on EU265 Billion Gas Gains Queried
The Netherlands got about 265 billion euros ($334 billion) in over half a century in proceeds from Slochteren and other gas fields, and has little to show for it. Had the Netherlands followed the Norwegian example of a sovereign wealth fund, about 350 billion euros would have been available as of January 2014, the court said. The Netherlands can still have 150 billion euros by 2035 if it starts putting money aside now and invests like the Norwegians, the Court said. The report comes Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government works on creating a “Future Fund” with which it wants to make up for lower gas proceeds through other investments. The government is being forced to cut gas output by 21 percent this year to 42.5 billion cubic meters in 2014 and 2015...............................................Full Article: Source
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