News item | 23-06-2023 | 4:00 pm
As of 1 October this year, gas will no longer be extracted in Groningen. The cabinet has decided that the last 5 production locations will also close. After 60 years, gas extraction from the Groningen field will therefore come to an end.
‘An important moment’
State Secretary Vijlbrief: “Gas extraction in Groningen will stop. An important moment after decades of gas extraction and especially the consequences of that gas extraction for Groningen residents. The problems of Groningen residents have not yet been resolved and unfortunately the earthquakes will continue for years to come, but the source of all misery will be closed from October.”
Conditions met
A condition for being able to stop gas extraction is that the nitrogen plant in Zuidbroek is finished. Gasunie Transport Services has announced that the factory can be fully commissioned on 1 October 2023. With this factory, H-gas, which is the gas that is underground in most places in the world, can be converted into L-gas, which is comparable to Groningen gas. It has already become clear that other conditions have also been met. Such as converting the Grijpskerk gas storage facility so that it can be used for L-gas and phasing out the export of L-gas abroad.
Uncertain international situation
Due to the uncertain international situation, in the coming gas year there will still be the possibility of extracting gas to a limited extent from the 11 existing production locations in very exceptional situations. This concerns the temporary start-up to pilot flame level if very severe cold is predicted. In this way, a rapid response can be made if, for example, a gas storage fails in those circumstances. Because in the event of very severe cold and the failure of a gas storage facility, an emergency would arise, which could lead to a temporary gas shortage.
Final closure in 2024
The last 11 production locations will be permanently closed from 1 October 2024. This is also laid down by law. In March or April 2024 it will be clear how full the storage facilities will be after the winter, how the new nitrogen plant in Zuidbroek will function and to what extent there will be less demand for gas due to, for example, energy savings and to what extent the supply of LNG has increased. We also know more about geopolitical developments. This information clarifies how to act in the run-up to the closure of the Groningen field on 1 October 2024.
Determination decision
This decision is the draft determination decision for the gas year 2023-2024. The final decision on gas year 2023-2024 will be taken no later than 1 October 2023.