Dutch government pays up for fracking earthquakes in Holland

A series of earthquakes caused by fracking in Holland came to a head in 2012 when a 3.6 magnitude quake caused widespread damage to buildings. The Dutch government admitted that it had not expected such seismic upheavals in its Groningen gas-field, but in response to protests from residents, it has ordered a 16% cut in production this year. This despite the fact that the field is a major source of revenue for the Dutch government and its co-developer, Shell, bringing in billions of euros each year.

The Times: reported that a €1.2 billion package is now in place to repair and reinforce homes and other buildings, including more than 20 of the medieval churches in the region that have sustained substantial damage. Let’s hope the British government is aware of this.