Product unsaleable
Brand Botlek has major consequences for local farmers
During the fire, which started on Monday 21 August near Esso in the Botlek area, soot particles were released. The consequences of this are major for the local agricultural sector on the island of Voorne-Putten. Livestock farmers are advised to keep their cows indoors and arable farmers are counting on crops such as onions and Brussels sprouts being unmarketable.
During the fire at ExxonMobil, Esso's parent company, the wind was in the direction of Zuidland, Abbenbroek, Oudenhoorn, Geervliet and Heenvliet. These all fall under the municipality of Nissewaard. No figures are yet available on the exact extent of the affected area. The government advises not to swim in surface water, to keep pets indoors and not to eat vegetables from your own garden.
Cattle forced into stable
The consequences for the agricultural entrepreneurs in the affected area could be significant. Livestock farmers are forced to leave their cows in stables where possible. Milk buyers such as FrieslandCampina have now followed the advice of the local LTO department and advise to keep the cattle indoors. About 15 companies in the area have followed the advice. According to LTO chairman Jan Varekamp, it is a drastic decision. "Not all barns are suitable for keeping livestock indoors at these summer temperatures. In addition, extra feed is required. There are also cows outside. You have to choose between 2 evils."
No research results yet
Varekamp expects to receive the official results of the investigation into the soot particles today, August 25. Food safety institute RIKILT is conducting research into the carbon substance together with the Rijnmond environmental service (DCMR) and the RIVM. Because this is a petroleum fire, PAHs may be present in the soot particles, such as message the Rijnmond region itself.
Onions and Brussels sprouts unsaleable
The consequences may be even greater for arable farmers and open field vegetable growers on the island. "We are counting on crops such as onions and Brussels sprouts to be unsaleable. The advice is not to deliver a product until the results are in. Even if the soot particles do not contain any harmful substances, the product is unsaleable, because the vegetables are no longer representative. "
Compensation
LTO Voorne-Putten has good contacts with ExxonMobil about the settlement of the damage. "We have now submitted that the vegetable crops are unsaleable and are demanding compensation for this. The company reacts positively to this. We are talking about a serious amount of product." It is difficult to say how many hectares are involved. According to data from Statistics Netherlands, the acreage of onions in the municipality of Nissewaard was 2 hectares 209 years ago. For Brussels sprouts, that was a total of 2015 hectares in 83.
History repeats itself
In 2011, farmers on the Hoeksche Waard island were hit by the consequences of a fire at Chemie-Pack in Moerdijk. For this, State Secretary Henk Bleker paid out €1,1 million to help 30 affected farmers. Their products, mainly Brussels sprouts, were not allowed to be delivered. Given the time of the fire, in the middle of winter, most of the crops had already been cleared. "In Moerdijk it was a chemical fire. Now we are talking about a petroleum fire," says Varekamp. "There is a clear difference in that. Minimal amounts of carbon are not harmful to livestock, for example, and do not end up in the milk."
Niels van der Boom
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