Officials of the Dutch State Supervision of Mines have urged the government to cut gas production significantly in view of potential threat to the inhabitants of Groningen.

The agency made several recommendations, including the immediate and complete closure of the Loppersum clusters, as operating them at full capacity could increase the probability of more and possibly heavier earthquakes.

The advice comes after an earthquake hit the Zeerijp region earlier this month with a magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter scale.

The opening and shut in of these clusters are cited as a potential cause of the Zeerijp earthquake.

“A major intervention is necessary in order to probably meet the safety standard and to reduce the risk of damage.”

Furthermore, the officials called for limiting the total production from the Groningen gas field to a maximum of 12 billion cubic metres per year in order to meet the safety norm with an estimated probability of 90% and decrease the likelihood of earthquakes.

Inspector General of Mines Theodor Kockelkoren said: “A major intervention is necessary in order to probably meet the safety standard and to reduce the risk of damage.

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“In addition, with continued pressure drop as a result of production, seismicity will increase again raising the risk posed by earthquakes. I therefore expect that the gas production will need to be reduced further in the future, if necessary to zero.”

Additionally, the officials recommended that production fluctuations at the Bierum cluster, located near the Loppersum clusters, must be limited immediately to +/- 20%, considering the potential to cause earthquakes in the Loppersum area.