Dutch Court To Rule On Groningen Production On November 18

A Dutch court reportedly said on Thursday it would take a final decision on the Groningen natural gas field on November 18, in line with previous declarations indicating that the court would rule by December 1. 

The Council of State concluded its investigation on September 11, after hearing 40 groups challenging the government’s plans to reduce production. In February, the Netherlands’ Safety Board found that national authorities underestimated the risks stemming from explorations. 

The field, which is operated by state-owned Gasunie in partnership with Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil, is the largest gas field in Europe and one of the top 10 in the world. 

The Dutch government repeatedly curtailed production over safety concerns. 

“The safety of the people of Groningen must come first," Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs said in June. "We are reducing gas extraction in Groningen as far as feasibly possible at the present time. The Government has therefore decided on a maximum of 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2015.”  

The initial target was around 40 bcm.