Production at the Groningen gas field in the Netherlands is to be reduced to zero by 2030.
The Dutch government has announced that it will cut production at the Groningen gas field to 12 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year by 2022, with extraction at the site completely halted by 2030.
Last month, the Dutch Prime Minister stated that the aim was to cut production levels at Groningen from 21.6 bcm per year down to 12 bcm as quickly as possible following a major earthquake in the area.
The timeline of the cuts could be impacted by extremely cold winters but the intention is to reduce levels to 17.5 bcm by the start of October 2019, if temperatures are around the seasonal average.
Eric Wiebes, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate informed the House of Representatives via a letter that: "The consequences of gas extraction are no longer acceptable in society. The earthquakes cause damage to homes and buildings and create uncertainty among residents. Continuous gas extraction, flanked by massive compensation, repair and reinforcement operation, is not a sustainable situation."
In order to effectively reduce extraction at the site a number of measures must be taken, including a new €500m nitrogen plant and reducing low calorific gas exports to countries such as Germany, France and Belgium which will impact gas prices across the continent.
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