Dutch see demand for Groningen gas down sharply from 2020
Photo courtesy of NAM.
(Reuters) - Demand for gas from Groningen will "fall sharply from 2020" as production at the northern Dutch field is reduced, Economy Minister Henk Kamp said in a letter to parliament released Tuesday.
The Netherlands has been forced to scale back production by roughly half at Groningen, which once met 10% of EU gas requirements, to 24 Bcmy due to damage from earthquakes.
Citing a June study by Gasunie, Kamp said a $540 MM gas conversion facility in Zuidbroek was no longer needed due to falling exports.
The Groningen gas field is operated by NAM, a JV between Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil Corp.
Dutch exports of gas have declined already and European countries, notably Germany, have said they would reduce Dutch imports further and seek other sources. The Netherlands has been studying the option of converting gas to meet export requirements.
"The market conversion abroad has started sooner than we anticipated," Kamp wrote. "Germany, France and Belgium will start the switch from low to high-caloric gas in 2020 instead of 2024.
That will lead to a reduction in demand for Groningen gas from 2020, he said.
Reporting by Anthony Deutsch, editing by Louise Heavens and William Hardy
- Gasum powers Equinor's platform supply vessel with bio-LNG
- ADNOC deploys pioneering AI-enabled process optimization technology
- Mexico Pacific announces long-term LNG SPA with POSCO International
- ONEOK to acquire Medallion and controlling interest in EnLink for $5.9 B
- Golar LNG signs EPC deal for $2.2-B MK II FLNG conversion project
Comments