Permanent closure of Europe’s largest gas field

published on 04/29/2024 at 4:36 p.m. |
Updated 04/29/2024 at 4:36 p.m.
| by
Johann Sonneck

In the north of the Netherlands, the end of the largest European natural gas deposit definitively recorded

Energy transition: 1 – Fossil energies: 0. This is the observation that many observers can undoubtedly make after the definitive closure of the largest natural gas field in Europe. It is located in the north of Netherlands, in Groningen. This important decision was ratified in mid-April by the Dutch Senate. It follows the cessation of the exploitation of this enormous gas deposit, effective a few months ago, in October 2023. It will apply concretely from 1^er October 2024.

This choice favorable to the greening of the European economy finds its origin in the earthquakes caused by this activity, suffered by local residents for decades. This is how a long period of political struggles ends in the Netherlands. A statement from the Upper House said the decision was taken in a bid to “provide greater clarity and certainty regarding the definitive end to gas extraction”.

The situation at the Groningen site has in fact dragged on for several years. On April 19, 2024, an official ceremony celebrating the end of drilling took place “at the very spot” where the deposit was discovered. It was in 1959. Operated from 1963he was a major contributor to Dutch economic prosperity in the second half of the 20th century.^e century. However, the problem of earthquakes caused by gas extraction got the better of him. It is in 2018 that its scheduled shutdown was decreed by the authorities. However, the Dutch government decided in 2022 to postpone the closing of the valves. The reason: global geopolitical and energy instability following the Ukrainian invasion by the Russian army. Finally carried out last October, this had not, however, been entirely synonymous with the total burial of the site. In fact, the Batavian executive then took the side of maintain two extraction units operational from Groningen. The goals :

• be able to respond in the event of “difficult winter weather conditions”, after experiencing a very harsh 2022-23 winter;
• deal with “the uncertain international situation” and limit the risk of a new energy crisis.

The cause: repeated earthquakes suffered for decades by the inhabitants of Groningen

For more than twenty years, the population of the Groningen region had to face low magnitude earthquakes close to the earth’s surface. These were caused by pockets of voids directly created by natural gas extraction. With each collapse, the latter caused significant material damage.

This is not the first time that we have noted that the exploitation of fossil fuels is responsible for earthquakes. In the north of the Netherlands, this problem worsened in the 2010s. In 2012, the most violent earthquake in the history of Groningen hit the city, with a magnitude of 3.6 on the Richter scale. In total, since 1986, there have in fact been more than 1,600 seismic episodes which were recorded there.

In 2018, the announcement of the planned closure of the site was welcomed by residents as a great victory. Nevertheless, earthquakes are probably not ancient history for these last ones. Indeed, expert studies have shown that this risk could continue for years after drilling activities have ended. The reason: the fact that empty underground cavities still exist. They may therefore continue to threaten collapse in the future.

Another difficulty for the local residents concerned: succeeding in obtain fair reparations and compensation faced with the resulting damage. Many of them had to face multiple legal and technical obstacles without obtaining satisfaction.

The Senate thus affirmed that “a debt of honor must be paid to the population of Groningen”. With one objective: to accelerate “the strengthening of buildings and the settlement of damage”. THE Groningen Bodem Beweging (GBB) is a campaign group bringing together people from this region of the Netherlands. He said to himself “ happy and relieved » by this definitive closure decision. In his eyes, it is simply a ” historical moment “.

A positive decision beneficial to the ecological and energy transitions to be implemented in Europe

On another side, some concerns were born from this decision taken by the Dutch Senate. These relate to the security of gas supply in the country. As for companies Shell and ExxonMobil, who exploited the deposit, they demanded compensation from the Dutch government. In the name of what ? A shortfall in the face of huge gas reserves that have not been extracted. It is the Energy Charter Treaty, from which the European Union (EU) recently emerged, which offers them this possibility. This treaty dating from the 1990s protects the interests of fossil fuel producers. If the EU has withdrawn from it as an institution, each member country can in reality choose to remain bound to it. This is precisely what the Netherlands is doing for the moment.

In any case, the closure of gas extraction in Groningen is excellent environmental news, in accordance with the European climate objectives. To achieve the expected ecological transition, these are:

For your part, are you also in favor of stopping the production of polluting energies? To take concrete action towards this goal, know that green electricity or gas offers are offered by some suppliers. Discover them by consulting the Choisir.com Energy Comparator.