Gas is extracted in Groningen and that has an effect on the soil. It starts to shake and the province is introduced to an un-Dutch phenomenon: earthquakes. Schokkend Groningen is an action group that was founded in May 2013. A number of Groningen residents form the basis of the action group. They want to use playful actions to appeal to NAM and the government so that the people of Groningen are compensated for the damage they have suffered as a result of natural gas extraction.
Shocking
The new action group is pumping its fist against the Dutch Petroleum Company (NAM). Victims of earthquakes and Groningen residents with damage due to natural gas extraction must be compensated by the NAM and the action group wants to achieve this. NAM must come to terms and a future fund must be created.
Call
In a Radio Noord broadcast the foundation was laid for the Groningen action group Schokkend Groningen. John Lanting from Uithuizermeeden called on the radio to take a stand against NAM. It is now too late for the action group to talk. Something has to be done. The group is not one for shouting and chaining themselves to buildings and derricks. The action group wants to make topics open for discussion, including:
- safety;
- depreciation of houses;
- stress among residents.
Fuses
Shockingly, Groningen does not think they can get NAM to stop natural gas extraction. Second best is proper handling of damage claims. The action group also advocates a departure scheme for people who want to leave the earthquake-prone area. In addition, safety must be guaranteed and a future fund must be filled with part of the natural gas revenues. This fund benefits the residents of the extraction area.
GBB
There is already an association that collects information about earthquakes and earthquakes and represents interests. The Association De Groninger Soil Movement (GBB) was founded in November 2009. The GBB is committed to helping people who are affected by natural gas extraction and who experience damage as a result of natural gas extraction in the Groningen field. GBB carefully keeps track of all earthquakes in the north of the country on a map.
The earthquake map states:
- the place;
- the date of the earthquake;
- the time;
- magnitude;
- depth.
Shocking Groningen believes that their action group has a right to exist alongside the GBB, because the GBB is not achieving enough results.
Minister
The Dutch government is conducting research into the consequences of natural gas extraction. The first three research reports will be published in June 2013. A total of eleven surveys will be held. The final reports are expected in December 2013. Only then will Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs make decisions about closing the gas tap or reducing extraction in Groningen.
Measures by the minister
On January 17, 2014, Minister Henk Kamp will announce the measures that will apply to Groningen.
The extraction of natural gas will be reduced in a targeted manner over three years. A total of almost 1.2 billion euros will be made available over five years, which can be used to strengthen buildings and improve homes and infrastructure. Where necessary, dikes are strengthened. Investments are also being made in the regional economy. The ministry is further developing the measures with the Groningen provincial and municipal administrators. The region is intensively involved in this. It’s called the dialogue table.
Loppersum
Production is reduced most in the riskiest area near Loppersum, by eighty percent in three years. The total gas production from the Groninger field will be reduced to 42.5, 42.5 and 40 billion cubic meters per year respectively for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. In 2013, almost 54 billion m3 were extracted from the ground. The tap at Loppersum does not close completely to ensure there is enough gas for the coldest days. These figures will be adjusted in January 2015.
Gas extraction 2015-2016
The figures released in January 2016 show that less gas has been extracted from the Groningen field. In 2015, NAM extracted a total of 46 billion cubic meters of gas from Dutch soil, of which 28 billion cubic meters from the Groningen field. (Except in Groningen, NAM extracts from 175 smaller fields on land and sea. Here too, production declined.)
In 2014, NAM extracted 55 billion cubic meters of gas, 42 of which came from the Groningen field. Minister Kamp of Economic Affairs set the production ceiling at 39.4 billion cubic meters in January 2015. In June 2015, this was further reduced to 30 billion cubic meters for the year 2015. In October 2015, the ceiling was lowered again to 27 billion cubic meters of gas for the period from October 2015 to September 2016.
read more
- Earthquake – Natural gas extraction in Groningen
- Gas extraction – gas extraction in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site
- The Silent Quake – earthquake in Groningen on camera
- Gas extraction – Damage and damage settlement by NAM
- Gas under Groningen – Kolham gas field in Slochteren