The Dutch Economy Minister has insisted production at the Groningen field will not exceed more than 36.4billion cubic metres this year.
Henk Kamp wrote to the country’s parliament to confirm caps previously agreed on Europe’s largest oil field would remain in place.
In February the minister cut first half 2015 production to 16.5 bcm, sending gas prices surging in Northwest Europe. The overall annual target for the year is still to be confirmed in July.
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.
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