- Gasunie is building a nitrogen plant near Zuidbroek to phase out Groningen gas extraction.
- Construction starts in autumn 2019 and the plant will be operational by 2022.
- The new plant will reduce Groningen gas production by 7 billion cubic meters annually.
- Nitrogen will be mixed with imported gas to match Groningen gas composition.
Project Overview
Gasunie has commissioned Air Products to construct three air separation plants for a new nitrogen facility near Zuidbroek. This project is part of the effort to phase out gas extraction in Groningen. Construction is set to begin in autumn 2019, following the completion of the licensing procedure and site preparation. The nitrogen plant is expected to be operational by 2022.
Purpose and Impact
The new nitrogen plant is crucial for reducing Groningen gas production, which will be scaled back by approximately 7 billion cubic meters per year. This reduction is part of the Dutch government's plan to decrease gas extraction in Groningen to less than 12 billion cubic meters annually by 2022, with a complete phase-out by 2030.
Technical Details
The nitrogen plant will extract nitrogen from the air and mix it with high-calorific foreign gas. This process will adjust the composition of the imported gas to match that of Groningen gas, making it suitable for use by Dutch households and businesses. The new facility will be located next to an existing nitrogen plant in Zuidbroek.
