“To get on the safety card, gas should not fall within the EZ – nrc.nl

"To get on the safety card, gas should not fall within the EZ – nrc.nl

A measurement location where the NAM can measure the subsidence caused by gas extraction. Photo ANP / Remko de Waal

Domestic Economy

For years, there were no safety along, if decisions were taken on the gas extraction in Groningen, according to the Safety Board in a report published today. To change that, Economic Affairs should not be the only relevant ministry, says the council

The main conclusion of the research council last month was already leaked:. For fifty years, the government has ignored the safety of Groningen – the treasury always went for

So far, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Henk Kamp (VVD) is now Minister of the only government party who was involved in the decision on gas. in addition to private parties such as NAM, Shell, ExxonMobil and GasTerra. The Ministry was in charge of looking after all the public interests, “where security is one of them.” The Research Council:

“The Ministry of Economic Affairs, however, was such a part of

the closed bastion where the importance of mining prevailed, that the security interest in practice played a subordinate role.”

The government decided earlier this month, after the leaking of the conclusion of the investigation board, to limit gas extraction being. Following the release this summer of another study of the State Supervision of Mines, the government wants then finally decide what happens to the gas.

The research was led by Erwin Muller, Professor of Safety and Law at Leiden University. The investigation was launched a year ago and covers the period from 1959 (the discovery of the gas field) and January 2014 (when Camp presented a package of measures). The Research Council of the gas kept however already been monitored, after the warning of the State Supervision of Mines that more gas would lead to more and heavier earthquakes.

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Read NRC Q: Five questions about Groningen gas that you have never dared to ask. Read NRC Handelsblad this afternoon about the report of the Board of Inquiry

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earthquakes

gas

Groningen

Henk Kamp

Safety Board