Cold Snap Sees Dutch Switch on Two Groningen Gas Sites
- Wells will temporarily extract minimal amounts of gas
- Field is set to be permanently shut due to earthquakes
A natural gas extraction plant and pipework above ground in Groningen, Netherlands.
Photographer: Cris Toala Olivares/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The Dutch government will temporarily extract minimal amounts of gas from the Groningen field due to the severe cold snap hitting Europe this week.
Two gas wells at the field in the northeastern Netherlands will run on ‘pilot light,’ which means a minimum amount of gas will be extracted. Groningen, Europe’s largest gas field, is set to permanently shut down this year due to the earthquakes it has caused. The government currently uses the field only for emergencies.