Expanding Groningen gas extraction is a ‘real option’, believes the Mijnraad, an independent advisory committee of the Ministry of Economic Affairs based on mineral extraction. That appears from a letter which the council sent last Wednesday to Minister Rob Jetten (D66, Climate and Energy) and State Secretary Hans Vijlbrief (D66, Mining). The security of gas supply is “under heavy pressure”, writes the Mining Council, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That is why the Council advises the cabinet to strive to top up the gas storage as much as possible in the coming months, “not just to the European minimum”.
The use of the Groningen gas field to replenish stocks is, according to the Mijnraad, “a realistic option to consider and prepare for”. There must be an investigation into how much production is needed and how much gas can be extracted in Groningen within the safety standards. In March advised the Mijnraad has already decided to refrain “during the duration of the crisis” from making irreversible decisions regarding the gas field in Groningen, such as closing gas wells. The option to extract “longer and more” gas in the north had to remain open, the council wrote at the time.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) said during a working visit in Groningen last week that the cabinet only wants to consider expanding gas extraction there if there really is no other option, “ultimo, ultimo, ultimo”. Shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, Minister Jetten described the deployment of the northern gas field in March as a “very, very last resort”.
In March, the State Supervision of Mines (SodM) also advised against extra gas extraction in Groningen. Inspector General Theodor Kockelkoren wrote in a letter to State Secretary Vijlbrief that the health risks would be ‘substantial’. “In the current situation, the safety of the inhabitants of Groningen is insufficiently guaranteed.” Last Friday Kockelkoren repeated opposite the NOS that additional gas extraction should not be an option. “The chance of a major earthquake, of magnitude 4.5 or 5, increases even more the moment you start extracting more gas,” says Kockelkoren. “Some of the most vulnerable houses will then collapse, potentially causing people to die.”
Also read: Extra gas from Groningen? Unmentionable for the Groningers