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TIL: Holland has 550 BILLION cubic meters of Natural Gas but doesn't drill...
| AZNgirl not letting AZNmen enter Website | 03/21/26 |
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Date: March 21st, 2026 9:26 AM Author: AZNgirl not letting AZNmen enter Website Cause shitlibs got MAF that some small earthquakes were caused by drilling so they shut down 100% of it. Now they only have 7% gas reserves left
Its truly insane how self destruction Euro Birdshits are. JFC
@EJVanGansen 's reply underscores the irony of Dutch energy shortages, as the Netherlands ceased extraction from the Groningen gas field—Europe's largest—despite its vast reserves. Groningen production halted in 2024 after decades of output caused seismic activity, leaving about 550 billion cubic meters of gas untapped to protect local infrastructure. Dutch gas storage hit a historic low of 7% in March 2026, fueling debates on reopening Groningen as an emergency reserve amid high prices and reduced Russian imports.
Yes, the main reason they closed (and phased out) the Groningen gas field was exactly because of the induced earthquakes caused by decades of gas extraction. The field has been producing since 1963, and over time, removing the gas reduced underground pressure, causing the rock layers to compact and trigger seismic activity—over 1,600 recorded earthquakes, mostly small (up to ~3.6 magnitude in 2012 at Huizinge), but they caused real damage because they're shallow and the soil amplifies the shaking.This led to cracked houses, sinking land (subsidence), safety fears for buildings, psychological stress for residents, and massive compensation/repair costs. The Dutch government (and courts like the Council of State) repeatedly ordered production cuts starting around 2014, accelerating the phase-out after big public backlash following stronger quakes. Full closure happened around 2023–2024, with the final decision to stop permanently (no reopening planned, despite some far-right calls later).It wasn't purely "liberals and environmentalists complaining" in the stereotypical sense—though green/climate groups did get involved later, linking it to fossil fuel phase-out. The core driver was local residents in Groningen province (ordinary people whose homes were literally cracking), massive protests (e.g., 10,000+ marching with torches in 2018), grassroots groups like the Groninger Bodem Beweging, and official investigations/parliamentary inquiries that slammed the government and operators (Shell/Exxon joint venture) for ignoring risks for years to prioritize gas revenue.Public pressure built hugely after the 2012 quake changed everything—from "this is our national wealth" to "this is destroying our homes and safety." Governments (various coalitions, not just left-leaning ones) had to respond because courts kept rejecting weak production plans, and it became a huge political liability. Environmental/climate arguments were part of the mix (especially post-2010s with EU green goals), but the earthquakes and direct human impact were the primary trigger, not ideology alone.In short: real, tangible earthquake damage + angry locals + court rulings forced the hand, way more than just "environmentalists whining." The irony now (with energy shortages) is exactly why people are pissed and debating it again.
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