The Oil Drum

Today a historic moment took place. The Dutch government acknowledged in its new energy strategy that Dutch natural gas production has passed its peak (file in Dutch here). Stating that the peak occurred in 2007/2008 and the Netherlands will have become a net importer of natural gas by 2025.

Figure 1 - Dutch gas forecast from TNO commissioned by the Dutch ministry of economic affairs. Y-axis in billion cubic meters Groningen Field Equivalent Heating Content. Red are the rapidly depleting small gas fields onshore and in the north sea. Light Blue is the large Slochteren field in the province of Groningen. Dark blue is the yet to be found production from small fields.

[Editor's note: The Netherlands is Europe's second largest gas producer after Norway. When the Dutch Government announces that their gas production will now decline this has major consequences for European energy security, in my opinion.]

Last Friday our blogger Rembrandt was interviewed about Peak Oil on the Dutch Television show NOVA. About the rising price of crude in light of his upcoming book 'The Permanent Oil Crisis', the first Peak Oil book to be published in Dutch in the beginning of June.

With thanks to Freek Blauwhof for adding subtitles.