Dutch gas plant hit by earthquake to close permanently April 19, 2024

By AFP - Agence France Presse

A controversial gas field in the north of the Netherlands that has caused earthquakes for decades will be closed permanently, a relief for many residents whose homes suffered serious damage.

The Dutch Senate finally passed a law closing the Groningen gas field on October 1, 2024, on Tuesday, after years of political wrangling.

"The ban on gas extraction from the Groningen field will come into force at the beginning of the 2024-2025 gas year," the Senate said in a statement.

"In this way, the government wants to provide more clarity and certainty about the definitive end of gas extraction," the statement added.

People living near the site, which opened in the early 1960s, have complained for more than 20 years of being terrorized by earthquakes attributed to drilling operations.

The local population has suffered from low-magnitude, near-surface earthquakes caused by vacuum pockets formed during gas extraction. These earthquakes caused widespread damage to houses and other buildings.

"All the groups present at the debate agreed that a debt of honor should be paid to the people of Groningen, firstly by speeding up the reinforcement of buildings and the settlement of claims," said the Senate.

A residents' campaign group, the Groningen Bodem Beweging (GBB), described the law as a "historic moment", saying they were "happy and relieved", even if the decision was "bittersweet".

In 2018, the government closed the gas field and reduced extraction to almost zero in recent years, but experts warned that earthquakes could continue.

In October, the Netherlands suspended extraction but kept 11 wells open in case of a harsh winter.

Critics of the measure expressed concern about the security of gas supplies in the Netherlands, especially given the energy uncertainties caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

ric/tw