The Dutch Government has called for a halt to production in part of Europe’s biggest gas field over safety concerns.
The ruling by the Council of State means output will be prevented around the village of Loppersum in the northern province of Groningen where the gas field is located.
Earlier this year the Dutch Government said it would call for risk analysis from gas companies when setting production levels.
The move came after a report had found the safety of the residents living in the Groningen province had not been taken seriously enough when previous gas levels were assessed.
Measures had been taken after a critical report by the country’s safety board last year.
Production at Loppersum had previously been capped at 3 billion cubic metres for 2015.
A court statement said gas could only be extracted “in and around Loppersum only if extraction from other locations is no longer possible.”
Dutch production makes up around 15% of Europe’s total.
Recommended for you
