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The Dutch authorities intend to close Europe’s largest natural gas field Groningen this year, as they consider it dangerous to further exploit it. According to the Financial Times, this was stated by the Minister of Mining Industry of the country Hans Wiilbrief.
According to Wiilbrief, the operation of the facility is expected to be closed before October 1, but the final decision depends on whether there will be a shortage of gas in Europe after the current winter.
If necessary, the field will remain open until October 2024, he said.
According to the minister, only a small fraction of Groningen’s capacity is currently in operation. He ruled out the possibility of increasing production at the field.
“We will not expand production for security reasons. This is absolutely inappropriate from a political point of view. However, I also do not intend to do this, since the increase in production increases the likelihood of earthquakes, for which I do not want to be responsible, ”said Wiilbrief.
It is noted that since the 1980s in the area of the Groningen deposit, up to 100 tremors are recorded annually. Their maximum strength was 3.6 points.
Amid the shortage of gas that Europe faced last year due to the situation in Ukraine, the Dutch authorities have postponed plans to close Groningen. At the same time, production at the field was reduced to the lowest possible level – 2.8 billion cubic meters per year.
The Netherlands and Europe as a whole have secured sufficient gas supplies, including from the US, Norway and Qatar, Wiilbrief said. In addition, mild winter weather allows the countries of the region to keep large gas reserves in storage.
The Netherlands in 2022 reduced gas consumption by 22% compared to the previous year, mainly due to a decrease in industrial production.
Source: Rosbalt
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