Dutch Court Rules Gas Output From EU's Biggest Field Be Cut
- Groningen output limit set at 27 bcm, 33 bcm in cold year
- Production at Loppersum cluster of field to remain suspended
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A Dutch court Wednesday ruled that natural gas extraction from Europe’s largest deposit should be cut by another 18 percent as local residents sought to stop tremor-inducing production that’s damaging their houses.
The Council of State said output from the Groningen gas field should be temporarily limited to 27 billion cubic meters (950 billion cubic feet) for the year from Oct. 1, the court said in its ruling. That’s about 6 percent of expected European Union gas use this year. Higher output may be allowed if it’s “relatively cold,” it said.