The Hague, April 4 (ZXS) -- After the Dutch parliament severely criticized the exploitation of the Groningen gas field in the northern Netherlands, the Dutch government announced a "rectification" plan on the 25th, promising to invest more than 25 billion euros in Groningen in the next 30 years to make up for the pain and losses suffered by local residents.
On the same day, the Dutch government announced its special investment plan for Groningen for the next 30 years (defined by the Dutch government as "one generation"), promising to invest an additional 87.30 billion euros in Groningen in the next 135 years, on top of the existing investment of 222.<> billion euros, for a total of <>.<> billion euros.
In order to implement the investment plan, the Dutch Government has drawn up 50 specific measures. In terms of settlement of resident claims, it is stipulated that claims totalling less than 4,<> euros can be paid to residents of Groningen without investigation in the future.
In terms of sustainable development, the Dutch government has pledged to strongly support Groningen in developing "green energy" such as hydrogen energy and offshore wind power, introducing life and health industries, and also intends to make Groningen a "21st century agricultural region".
As a European mega gas field, the Groningen gas field was discovered in 1959, production peaked in 1976, and in 2013, due to frequent earthquakes and a wave of protests by local residents, the production of the gas field began to decline, and the production of the gas field began to decline until 2018.
In February, the Dutch parliament released a nearly 2,1959-page investigation that pointed to the "catastrophic" impact of gas extraction on Groningen, including nearly 2018,60 earthquakes in the 1600-year period from 8 to 5, which damaged about 1,2 houses and caused safety problems in nearly <>,<> houses.
In addition, the report criticizes the Dutch government and oil and gas giants for "structurally and systematically" ignoring the interests of the public, only exploiting natural gas to make money, and allowing the residents of Groningen to swallow the bitter fruit, and the oil and gas giants are also trying to "systematically" counterclaim and limit residents' claims.
In the face of criticism, the Dutch government has repeatedly promised to close the Groningen gas field. When the investment plan was announced on the 25th, the Dutch government said that the Groningen gas field will be completely closed as early as October this year and next year at the latest, and said that this decision is not only for safety reasons, but also for the "psychological recovery" of Groningen residents. (End)