van der Laan, Jesse (2024) An evaluation of stakeholder participation process around the development of nuclear power plants in Borsele, the Netherlands. Bachelor thesis.
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Abstract
The development of large-scale infrastructure projects generates social, economic and environmental impacts on many stakeholders. Limiting these impacts requires a high-quality stakeholder participation process, which in turn creates the possibility for a project to attain a high-level Social License to Operate. Plans are currently being formed to construct two additional nuclear power plants in Borsele, the Netherlands, as a source of reliable and clean energy. These plans are being formed, as the transition to cleaner sources of energy is essential to combat anthropologically induced climate change. The construction of two nuclear power plants has major economic, social and environmental impacts on local stakeholders such as residents and regional stakeholders such as the government. This paper investigates the stakeholder participation process that has been initiated by the municipality of Borsele and the national government. It then evaluates this process and relates it to the possibility of attaining a high-level Social Licence to Operate for the construction of the nuclear power plants. Interviews have been conducted with a member of the ‘dorpsraad’, a resident from Borsele, an employee of the municipality and an employee of the national government. Through the use of this qualitative methodology, findings have shown that the quality of the stakeholder participation process initiated by the municipality can be categorized around placation and partnership. This stakeholder has initiated a timely and meaningful dialogue focused on local impacts of the nuclear powerplants development. The process initiated by the national government can be categorized around informing and is improving towards consultation. Their process started off monological and as informing, they are now attempting to facilitate a more meaningful dialogue. Furthermore, the national government is working on improving their transparency of decision making. Essential aspects to improve the stakeholder participation process in Borsele are the reduction of reactivity and improvement of timeliness of the process. In order to do so, the municipality and national government should consult each other. They should aim at facilitating a meaningful and ongoing participation process during the project. By prioritizing transparent and efficient participation and incorporating stakeholders into the decision-making process, the overall quality of stakeholder engagement can be significantly improved. This could then lead to a higher chance of attaining a high-level Social License to Operate.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Spatial Planning and Design |
| Supervisor: | Hanna de Almeida Oliveira, P. |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jul 2024 09:16 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Jul 2024 09:16 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4586 |
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