News item | 14-03-2022 | 4:00 pm
Probably 4.6 billion cubic meters of gas may be extracted from the Groningen field this year, if the rest of the gas year is average. That is considerably less than the 7.6 billion cubic meters that the previous government had to warn about, but slightly more than predicted at the start of this gas year, which runs from October 2021 to September 2022. State Secretary Vijlbrief (Mining) is planning to to allow this amount of gas extraction. After the State Supervision of Mines has issued advice on this proposed extraction, the State Secretary will make a final decision before 1 April.
State Secretary Vijlbrief: “Although extra gas will have to be extracted this gas year, fortunately it is limited. The world has changed drastically in the past month and that also has an effect on our energy supply. 4.6 billion cubic meters from the Groningen field provides enough certainty for this gas year, and the road to rapid final closure of the field, even in 2023, is still open.”
Thanks to smarter use of the existing nitrogen factories, a different quality of imported gas and the mild winter, less extra gas is needed from the field than expected in January this year. The previous cabinet then warned that there were setbacks, including delays in the construction of the nitrogen plant in Zuidbroek and possible higher demand from Germany. After taking office, State Secretary Vijlbrief, together with parties from the gas sector, started looking for ways to limit extraction. This is necessary in order not to increase the risk of earthquakes, and therefore for the safety of the people of Groningen.
After this gas year, the Groningen field will only be available as a reserve resource in the event of an extremely cold winter or major supply problems. Everything is aimed at closing the field definitively as soon as possible – in 2023 or 2024. However, the circumstances are uncertain – partly due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The government continues to emphasize that the Groningen field will only be considered as a very last option if the energy supply to households is seriously endangered.