The Dutch Cabinet is taking measures to gradually cease natural gas extraction from the Groningenveld gas field, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy announced on Thursday.
The Dutch Council of Ministers considers that the consequences of the extraction are no longer socially acceptable and believes that the resulting earthquakes are damaging homes and other buildings and are causing uncertainty among the occupants.
"Natural gas extraction from the Groningenveld gas field will be terminated. Safety perception, as well as actual safety, can only be guaranteed for the near future in Groningen by fully eliminating the source of the earthquake risk," the ministry noted.
The natural gas extraction level will be reduced to below 12 billion standard cubic meters (Nm3) no later than October 2022 and possibly even one year sooner, the ministry said, adding that depending on the impact of the measures, extraction after that date is expected to decrease to at least 7.5 billion Nm3 and possibly to substantially less than that.
"In subsequent years, it will gradually be reduced to zero," the statement read.
"According to the Cabinet, ongoing natural gas extraction, combined with massive financial compensation and restoration and reinforcement operations, form an untenable situation," the statement read.
Current extraction levels from the Groningenveld total a maximum of 21.6 billion Nm3 in an average year, and 27 billion Nm3 in years with cooler temperatures.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr