Memorandum regarding COBRA cable available

26-08-2010 As of today, the draft memorandum regarding the scope and specifics of the COBRA cable is deposited for inspection until Wednesday 6 October 2010. The COBRA cable is an electricity connection between the Netherlands and Denmark. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be drawn up for this project. The expanded Environmental Impact Assessment procedure will be followed for this. An appropriate assessment will also be drawn up and included in the EIR.

Background 
TenneT TSO and Energinet.dk (the Danish Transmission System Operator) wish to install an undersea direct-current connection between the Netherlands and Denmark with a transmission capacity of approx. 700 to 1,000 MW. Convertor substations will be constructed near the connecting points to the grid. On the Dutch side, this connection will be linked to the 380 kV high-voltage grid at the existing substation in Eemshaven. At the opposing end, the connection will be linked in Endrup in Denmark. This connection traverses some areas of the so-called Natura 2000 network, including the Waddenzee area, the North Sea coastal zone and potentially the Ems river and Dollart bay. These areas are considered to be ‘large bodies of water’ and are part of the National Ecological Network. 

Procedures and decision-making 
The National Coordination Scheme is applied during the decision-making process for this project. This means that the decision regarding spatial integration in Dutch territory is drawn up in a so called National Integration Plan. This plan is jointly formulated by the Minister of Economic Affairs and the Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment. The Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management will need to grant a Water Act License in order to authorise the offshore route of the cable. 

Further information 
To receive the draft memorandum regarding the scope and specifics of the COBRA cable or for information on the public consultation procedure, please contact the Energy Projects Office on +31 (070) 370 89 79. Alternatively, visit their website at www.bureau-energieprojecten.nl (Dutch only). In collaboration with TenneT TSO and Energinet.dk, the Ministers of Economic Affairs, Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, and Transport, Public Works and Water Management are organising an information evening regarding the plan and following procedures. This information evening will be held on Thursday 16 September in Hotel Ekamper, Radsweg 12, Oosteinde/Roodeschool in the province of Groningen. The hall is open from 19:00 until 21:00, providing interested parties with the opportunity to visit the information market. Representatives of both TenneT and the ministries mentioned above will be on hand to answer any questions.