Parliamentary inquiry into gas extraction in Groningen (Parlementaire enquêtecommissie aardgaswinning Groningen): findings and what happened next
Natural gas extraction from the Groningen field, the earthquakes it caused and the handling of damage and reinforcement.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Type
- parliamentary inquiry
- Chaired by
- Tom van der Lee
- Report published
- 24 February 2023
- Recommendations
- 11
Implementation, as of 25 April 2023The cabinet's April 2023 plan Nij Begun set out fifty measures and 22 billion euros over thirty years. Later implementation progress was not sourced.
What the inquiry found
- The committee found that the interests of Groningers were structurally ignored in gas extraction, with disastrous consequences for them.1,2
- The committee concluded that "Nederland een ereschuld heeft aan Groningen" (the Netherlands owes Groningen a debt of honour), and said this was a moral obligation, not a legal liability.2
- The committee said safety, property, health and well being were insufficiently weighed in decision making on gas extraction.1
- The committee found that damage, reinforcement costs and the burden on residents were consistently underestimated and that security of supply was used as a smokescreen.2
- According to the committee, about 363 billion euros flowed to the state treasury and about 66 billion euros went as profit to Shell and ExxonMobil shareholders.2
Key recommendations
- The committee recommended milder, simpler and more humane damage handling and one broadened, area based reinforcement approach.2
- It recommended freeing up more money for future costs, requiring the State and the oil companies to show sufficient funds are available, and that the oil companies waive any claim to gas not extracted.2
What happened next
- The cabinet published its response, Nij Begun, with fifty measures and 22 billion euros for Groningen and Noord Drenthe over the next thirty years, and apologised.3
Read the report: www.tweedekamer.nl/groningen/rapport
Sources
- Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, Parlementaire enquêtecommissie: belangen van Groningers structureel genegeerd bij gaswinning (24 February 2023)
- Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, Persbericht over rapport Groningers boven gas (24 February 2023)
- Parlement.com, Kabinetsreactie op rapport gaswinning: 22 miljard voor Groningen en Noord-Drenthe (25 April 2023)