On 14 March 2025, at the call of XR, 25 activists gathered at the RWE Eemshavencentrale in Eemshaven (Groningen) to demand its closure, citing its environmental impact and the fossil fuel subsidies it received. The protest was part of Operation Storm, a three-day campaign targeting companies benefiting from such subsidies. When ordered to leave by police, seven activists refused, were arrested, interrogated, and later released.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing: Protests at Dutch Energy Facilities

1. Summary

On March 14, 2025, environmental group XR led a protest of 25 people at the RWE power plant in Eemshaven, Netherlands. Part of a 3-day campaign demanding the abolition of fossil fuel subsidies and closure of the power plant, police intervened and arrested 7 people who were soon released. The small-scale protest caused no immediate operational disruption, but energy transition pressure continues.

2. Supply-chain impact

• Power supply stability: The RWE Eemshaven power plant is a major power source for northern Netherlands, with ongoing environmental pressure potentially affecting medium to long-term operational plans
• Industrial complex operations: High dependence on power supply for Eemshaven port and nearby chemical/energy industrial complexes raises concerns of indirect impact from power plant policy changes
• Energy transition costs: If protests targeting fossil fuel facilities spread, accelerated renewable energy transition could lead to short-term electricity rate increases and supply-chain cost increases

3. Watch points

• Protest expansion: Whether protests targeting other energy facilities under the Operation Storm campaign occur and trends in scale changes
• Government policy response: Monitoring signals of Dutch government policy review on fossil fuel subsidies or adjustments to energy transition timeline