News item | 20-06-2022 | 17:30
All wells remain open due to flexibility
State Secretary Hans Vijlbrief (Mining) today informed the House of Representatives that the Groningen field will be lit in October this year, as promised. The cabinet wants to be able to close the Groningen field in 2023, because this is the only way to restore safety in Groningen and to remove uncertainty for local residents in the long term. Due to the uncertain geopolitical developments, Vijlbrief has decided not to close any wells definitively this year. This means that the preliminary production level of the pilot flame is approximately 2.8 billion Nm3.
Current gas year
Gas extraction from the Groningen field was lower than expected in the period between 1 April and today. The reason for this is, among other things, a lower actual consumption, partly due to warm weather, and a higher use of the existing nitrogen installations. This means that the production level at the end of the gas year could be lower than the 4.5 billion Nm3 expected on 1 April last. This creates the opportunity to absorb the setback caused by the delay in the construction of the Zuidbroek nitrogen installation and to maintain gas extraction at the previously established level of 4.5 billion Nm³. For example, the delay in Zuidbroek will not be at the expense of filling gas storage facilities.
Security of supply
The government is doing everything it can to guarantee the security of gas supply for next winter. Minister Rob Jetten (Climate and Energy) today announced the first phase of a gas crisis: the ‘early warning’. This activates the Gas Protection and Recovery Plan and gas companies must share detailed information about gas supplies with the government on a daily basis. In addition, the cabinet has withdrawn the production restriction for coal-fired power stations for 2022 to 2024 with immediate effect. This means that the coal-fired power stations are allowed to produce at full capacity again, so that less gas is needed for the production of electricity by gas-fired power stations.
State Secretary for Mining Hans Vijlbrief: “We are doing what we can to ensure that there is enough gas for next winter. For example, to save gas, we are using coal-fired power stations and to maintain maximum flexibility, we are not closing any wells in October. I think that is sensible, given the geopolitical situation. But as I have always said, it is important that from October this year we only use the Groningen field as a reserve resource. Only in the very last case, if the safety of people is at stake because, for example, we no longer have gas to heat hospitals, cook or make diesel oil, will the possible use of the Groningen field be discussed.”
Because the cabinet wants to be flexible as much as possible, all wells will remain open for the time being, which means that the minimum flow will be approximately 2.8 billion Nm³. The field could close completely in October 2023 or 2024, geopolitical situation permitting.
