People in Groningen think the company in charge of natural gas extraction in the northern province are not doing enough to compensate households for damage caused by earthquakes.

The €100m which NAM has made available for preventing damage and compensating households is a ‘drop in the ocean’, according to lobby group Groninger Bodembeweging which collects complaints.

People living around the village of Loppersum are concerned their homes have collapsed in value and want an independent organisation to deal with damages claims made because of the gas extraction.

The discussion about compensation has restarted following the publication of an economic affairs ministry report which says gas extraction may cause earthquakes of between 4 and 5 on the Richter scale, not up to 3.9 as earlier thought.

The NAM has said it will take steps to prevent damage to vulnerable buildings and is looking at ways to extract gas with less far-reaching effects. It describes the risks as ‘acceptable and manageable’.

Earlier stories
Gas extraction group NAM should investigate earthquakes
Second minor earthquake hits Groningen