Energy taxes will not rise 75% in the coming years, as suggested by one of the groups working on the government’s plans to phase out the use of natural gas in the Netherlands and halve CO2 emissions.

Five groups are currently focusing on different aspects of the problem and one, looking at the built environment, had proposed a massive hike in the tax paid by consumers on natural gas.

However, sources in The Hague have told the AD that idea has now been ditched, because of the impact on households. The four coalition parties have been divided on the cost of the transition, which is supposed to halve Dutch CO2 emissions by 2030.

Ministers have given their seal of approval to stimulating the use of electric cars, including a major expansion in the number of charging points, which is another one of the proposals, the AD said.

The development of a national energy agreement is part of the current coalition accord and it should be finalised by the end of this year.