Exploring, extracting and storing minerals or geothermal heat

In order to explore, extract and store minerals or geothermal heat underground, you need a licence from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (EL&I), the Energy Department, Telecom & Competition. You can find the application forms on the NL Oil and Gas Portal. When applying for an exploration licence you must submit a geological report, amongst other things. When applying for an extraction licence or a storage licence, you must submit an extraction plan or a storage plan, amongst other things.

Reconnaissance survey

If you carry out an reconnaissance survey with explosives or through artificially generated vibrations, you must draw up written instructions in advance. You offer these instructions to the State Supervision of Mines (SodM).

Measurements movement surface of the earth

As a licence holder you must take measures to prevent environmental damage and safety risks with your work. If you extract or store minerals, you must carry out measurements
regarding the movement of the surface of the earth. You carry out these measurements before and
during your work and up to 30 years after your work.

Providing data to the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO)

Every month you must send the data that you have obtained when exploring, extracting and storing minerals or geothermal heat to TNO Built Environment and Geosciences, DINO department (Data and Information of the Dutch Subsurface). You submit rock samples to TNO, Centrale Kernhuis. When storing minerals or geothermal heat you may be exempted from this obligation by the Ministry of EL&I.

Transfer, splitting or merging licences Mining Act

In order to transfer a (part of a) licence or merge 2 or more Mining Act licences, you must submit an application to the Ministry of EL&I.

Applying digitally through the Message Box

With the Message Box you can submit a digital application for the exploration licence, extraction licence and storage licence to the Ministry of EL&I, Energy Department, Telecom & Competition.