Dutch Plan Zero Groningen Output by 2030

Gas production from the Groningen field will be completely terminated by 2030, the Dutch government announced March 29.

"Only by removing the cause of the earthquake risk can the safety and safety experience in Groningen be guaranteed in the foreseeable future. The government is therefore taking measures to completely reduce gas production as quickly as possible," said the economy and climate ministry in an afternoon statement.

Dutch mining inspectorate SSM had already recommended a near-term reduction of this year's 21.6bn m³/yr cap to 12bn m³/yr and, according to Reuters, Dutch PM Mark Rutte said this reduction will be implemented in phases between this year and 2021.

"No later than October 2022, but possibly a year earlier, gas extraction will be reduced below the level of 12bn m³/yr. Depending on the effect of the measures, a decrease to 7.5bn m³/yr is expected from October 2022 and possibly considerably less. In the following years, the gas production is completely reduced to zero," the economy ministry statement continued.

Groningen is the largest gas field in the Netherlands, and in 2009 its operator expected it would continue to produce until the late 2050s.

The ministry said it was quoting a letter from economy and climate minister Eric Wiebes on which the Dutch cabinet had given its approval. "According to the government, the consequences of gas extraction are no longer acceptable in society. The earthquakes cause damage to homes and buildings and create uncertainty among residents. Moreover, the reinforcement operation has major consequences for the province. A continuous gas extraction, flanked by a massive compensation, repair and reinforcement operation, is therefore not a sustainable situation," the ministry said.

Graphic from the Dutch economy and climate ministry showing a blue projection for Groningen output in a cold year, a purple one for an average one, and a green one for a warm year - all ending at zero in gas year 2030-31