The Netherlands has ceased production at the massive Groningen gas field located in the north of the country, which is the largest gas field in Europe.
This decision comes after the surrounding region experienced increasingly severe earthquakes over the years.
Despite gas extraction operations having been halted in recent years, the Dutch government has kept the site operational due to uncertainties related to the ongoing global energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Jean Wiegboldus, head of the Groningen Gas Council, a local organization campaigning to assist earthquake victims, told AFP, “Many people in the area are suffering from psychological problems due to gas extraction.”
In February, a parliamentary committee accused Dutch authorities of “not paying any attention to long-term risks,” emphasizing that it is the government’s responsibility to rectify the situation.
Residents living near the site have complained about earthquakes for over two decades, directly attributed to drilling operations.
Many houses in the Groningen area have been renovated or rebuilt with earthquake-resistant structures.
Nearly 2.3 billion cubic meters of gas have been extracted from the field. Between 1963 and 2020, gas extraction from Groningen generated around €429 billion in revenue, with 85% of it going to state coffers, according to Shell.
During a visit to the region on Friday, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, as reported by the Dutch news agency, stated that tens of thousands of children are in a difficult situation, adding that “it’s horrifying.”
