Dutch Judge Rules Out Production Halt at Groningen Field

The confusion on production at the Groningen field in the Netherlands continues, with divergent messages coming from politicians and judges. Judge Thijs Drupsteen said during a hearing on Wednesday that a total halt to gas production at the largest natural gas field in Europe is ruled out. 

According to Dutch daily De Telegraaf, a ruling by the Council of State is expected within two weeks.  

On Monday, Economic affairs minister Henk Kamp told local broadcaster RTV Noord  that the Dutch government will work to solve the situation, admitting that “the people of Groningen did not get the attention they deserved.” 

At the end of February, the Dutch Safety Board published its report ‘Earthquake risks in Groningen’, reporting that the safety of the nearby population has been downplayed for years.  

‘Until the beginning of 2013, the safety of citizens in Groningen in relation to induced earthquakes had no influence on decision-making on the exploitation of the Groningen gas field. The parties concerned deemed the safety risk to the population to be negligible and thus disregarded the uncertainties surrounding this risk assessment’ reads the report. 

Earlier this year, the Netherlands cut gas production from the Groningen gas field by 15% to 20%. The field, which is the tenth largest in the world, produces gas for national consumption, as well as for export to Germany, Italy, France and United Kingdom.