The Dutch caretaker government has reiterated its commitment to small field's gas extraction with the announcement of new approvals, despite the recent agreement with the operators to not produce gas from the Ternaard field.
"In light of the energy demands we have in the Netherlands, and in light of the geopolitical situation... we will continue to extract gas from small fields, onshore and, I might add, in the North Sea", Dutch climate and green growth minister Sophie Hermans said on Thursday.
The Netherlands still needs gas in transition away from fossil fuels and importing gas from abroad carries more CO2 emissions, the minister added.
The situation in Ternaard was unique and it does not mean that there is now a new, generic policy, Hermans said. The Dutch government and gas producer Nam and ExxonMobil's Dutch subsidiary EMPN agreed not to extract gas under the Wadden Sea at Ternaard on 1 December in exchange for a compensation package, following political and societal opposition. But the government said it will not just roll out this type of agreement across the Netherlands for other gas fields.
This is of particular relevance given heavy opposition from political parties and residents to gas extraction at the Warffum gas field in the Groningen region. The giant Groningen field was phased out because of seismic activity in the region.
The government will not conclude this type of agreement in Warffum, Hermans emphasised. "The decision is now before the court", she added. The minister decided to extend extraction at the field on 6 December. But the Dutch house of representatives passed a motion demanding the government to stop gas extraction near Warffum on 9 December.
And the government is continuing in its objective to boost natural gas production from small fields in the North Sea, it also said yesterday.
The potential gas extraction project in the L7-F area by Eni Energy Netherlands is under way, and three more applications for gas extraction in the North Sea are being prepared for the start of the national project procedure, the government said.
Two permitting procedures are also under way from small onshore fields in Drenthe — the VDW project — and Friesland — the FFW project — by Vermilion Energy Netherlands, it added.
"Gas may still be extracted from small onshore gas fields, as long as this can be done safely," the government emphasised.
