Dutch watchdog says Groningen gas production still a risk
The Netherlands' State Supervisor for Mines said on March 8 that gas production at the giant Groningen field still posed a safety risk to people in the area, even as the EU scrambles to find alternatives to Russian supply.
Groningen is the largest gas field in Europe outside Russia, but Dutch authorities have been steadily reducing its production in recent years because of the earthquakes that these operations cause. It is on track to stop flowing gas completing in October this year.
"Only once gas production has been phased out and the houses that need it have been reinforced, will Groningen be just as safe as the rest of the Netherlands," said Theodor Kockelkoren, the inspector general of the supervisor, which advises the Dutch government.
The government in January raised the amount of gas permitted to be produced at Groningen in the year ending October 1, 2022, to 7.6bn m3, from a previous quota of 3.9bn m3. But so far it has ruled out making any other adjustments, despite soaring gas prices and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.