More gas is needed from Groningen this year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs says. Germany needs more gas to meet its energy needs because energy-saving measures there are less effective than expected, the ministry says.
The Germans have asked the Netherlands to supply that gas. They need 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas, while a total of only 3.9 billion cubic meters would be extracted from Groningen’s soil in the coming gas year (October 1, 2021 to September 30) 2022). That will become a maximum of 7.6 billion cubic meters, provided it does not become extremely cold. More gas would be extracted than the forecast anyway.
Why must the Netherlands supply gas to Germany?
The Netherlands has a long-term contract with Germany that expires in this decade. According to that contract, the Netherlands is obliged to supply gas for German households. Germany is also working on that itself, but it is not succeeding at the pace that was hoped for. Some five million households in northern and western Germany are connected to Groningen gas, as are virtually all Dutch households.
In November, outgoing Minister Blok (EZ) announced that more Groningen gas is needed because of the delay in the construction of a nitrogen plant, which must convert foreign gas to the quality of Groningen gas (low-calorific). The plant was supposed to be ready in April, but it won’t be, which is another reason why more gas is needed than planned.
Risks of additional extraction
Blok has urged his German counterpart to take all possible measures in the hope that the extra gas will not be necessary. In the meantime he is having TNO carry out additional research into the risks of earthquakes. The State Supervision of Mines is also studying the risks of additional extraction.
The new minister will take a final decision before 1 April. Under past agreements, the Netherlands is obliged to supply Groningen gas if European customers with whom contracts have been concluded so request.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
As I understand it, German demand is just one third of the extra extraction, the other two thirds is to compensate for gas that was supposed to be imported from Norway but can’t be processed yet. The high caloric imported gas needs to be converted to low caloric by adding nitrogen, before it can be distributed. But the nitrogen plant isn’t ready yet, due to covid.
more importantly there is an agreement (contract) about that with Germany
Wait didn’t we just shut it down 🤨
I guess they need more gas after closing those power plants.
As someone who lives in the area effected by the earthquakes as a direct results from extracting the gas I can contribute the following:
When new cracks appear in my walls and ceiling and an earthquake is registered with a magnitude 3 on the scale of richter I can contact the government for subsidies that cover the costs to repair the damage (usually 1000 euro’s per crack).
To me it seems reasonable to reopen the extraction considering European demand, current shortages and Russia’s geo-politics. However if my house would become unstable and unlivable; I might have a different attitude as some in this area will experience. It’s a difficult situation where there are no winners and no one involved wants to continue extraction but it is what it is.
Maybe less datacenters then which add 0,00001 percent value.
9 comments
More gas is needed from Groningen this year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs says. Germany needs more gas to meet its energy needs because energy-saving measures there are less effective than expected, the ministry says.
The Germans have asked the Netherlands to supply that gas. They need 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas, while a total of only 3.9 billion cubic meters would be extracted from Groningen’s soil in the coming gas year (October 1, 2021 to September 30) 2022). That will become a maximum of 7.6 billion cubic meters, provided it does not become extremely cold. More gas would be extracted than the forecast anyway.
Why must the Netherlands supply gas to Germany?
The Netherlands has a long-term contract with Germany that expires in this decade. According to that contract, the Netherlands is obliged to supply gas for German households. Germany is also working on that itself, but it is not succeeding at the pace that was hoped for. Some five million households in northern and western Germany are connected to Groningen gas, as are virtually all Dutch households.
In November, outgoing Minister Blok (EZ) announced that more Groningen gas is needed because of the delay in the construction of a nitrogen plant, which must convert foreign gas to the quality of Groningen gas (low-calorific). The plant was supposed to be ready in April, but it won’t be, which is another reason why more gas is needed than planned.
Risks of additional extraction
Blok has urged his German counterpart to take all possible measures in the hope that the extra gas will not be necessary. In the meantime he is having TNO carry out additional research into the risks of earthquakes. The State Supervision of Mines is also studying the risks of additional extraction.
The new minister will take a final decision before 1 April. Under past agreements, the Netherlands is obliged to supply Groningen gas if European customers with whom contracts have been concluded so request.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
As I understand it, German demand is just one third of the extra extraction, the other two thirds is to compensate for gas that was supposed to be imported from Norway but can’t be processed yet. The high caloric imported gas needs to be converted to low caloric by adding nitrogen, before it can be distributed. But the nitrogen plant isn’t ready yet, due to covid.
more importantly there is an agreement (contract) about that with Germany
Wait didn’t we just shut it down 🤨
I guess they need more gas after closing those power plants.
As someone who lives in the area effected by the earthquakes as a direct results from extracting the gas I can contribute the following:
When new cracks appear in my walls and ceiling and an earthquake is registered with a magnitude 3 on the scale of richter I can contact the government for subsidies that cover the costs to repair the damage (usually 1000 euro’s per crack).
To me it seems reasonable to reopen the extraction considering European demand, current shortages and Russia’s geo-politics. However if my house would become unstable and unlivable; I might have a different attitude as some in this area will experience. It’s a difficult situation where there are no winners and no one involved wants to continue extraction but it is what it is.
Maybe less datacenters then which add 0,00001 percent value.
2018: we’re stopping, for real.
2022: just one more small frack..
Oh boy