Netherlands stops drilling in the largest gas field in Europe.

On Sunday, the Netherlands ceased extraction activities from the largest gas field in Europe, a measure taken due to the occurrence of earthquakes that have been unsettling local inhabitants for an extended period and pose a continued threat.

The authorities have decided to maintain the operation of 11 extraction wells at the Groningen gas field for an additional year. This decision has been made as a precautionary measure in the event of a harsh winter, prior to permanently ceasing operations at the field. This step is being taken amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Residents residing in close proximity to the aforementioned location, established during the initial years of the 1960s, have expressed grievances for a period exceeding two decades regarding the distressing impact of seismic activities directly associated with drilling activities.

The indigenous populace has been encountering seismic events of low magnitude and shallow depth, resulting from the formation of voids during the extraction of gas. These occurrences have led to extensive structural impairments to residential dwellings and other edifices.

The announcement of the field's closure in 2018 was met with a positive reception from the residents. However, scientists have cautioned them about the potential for further seismic activity in the coming years.

Despite a significant reduction in gas extraction from the field in recent years, the government has maintained the operational status of the facility in response to global energy uncertainty, primarily influenced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

According to Jan Wigboldus, the president of a local organisation representing the community, a significant proportion of individuals residing in the province are experiencing psychological distress as a result of the gas extraction activities. This statement was conveyed to the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

Additionally, numerous individuals have found themselves entangled in bureaucratic processes, resulting in a meager amount of financial restitution.

In February, a parliamentary commission issued a report which criticized the Dutch authorities for their inadequate consideration of long-term dangers during the extraction process. The report also emphasized the moral responsibility of the government to address this situation.

According to Shell, the field has yielded around 2,300 billion cubic metres (81,223 billion cubic feet) of gas throughout its operational history.

Between the years 1963 and 2020, Groningen gas production yielded a substantial sum of 429 billion euros ($450 billion) when adjusted for inflation. Notably, around 85 percent of this revenue was directed into the public coffers.

Over the course of several months, the site has been cluttered with large quantities of discarded pipes, remnants of the field sections that have previously been disassembled.

A significant number of residential properties in the Groningen region have undergone renovation or reconstruction to integrate structures that are resilient to seismic activity.

According to the Dutch agency ANP, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during a visit to the location that there exists a significant number of youngsters residing in an unfavorable condition inside the territory.