Letter from Amsterdam: Dutch rediscover North Sea gas benefits

An increasingly import-dependent Netherlands is mulling fresh incentives for offshore gas exploration as the industry prepares to make energy transition pledges

Europe’s efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian gas following Moscow’s decision to invade  Ukraine are a timely boon for operators of Dutch North Sea gas fields. After years of underinvestment due to punishing bureaucracy, unattractive commodity prices and unfavourable investment terms, the Dutch offshore gas industry is now being wooed by a new government grappling with a security of supply crisis just two months into the job. “The cabinet wants to prevent production from Dutch small fields from falling faster than the Dutch demand for natural gas, because this would further increase import dependence,” wrote climate and energy minister Rob Jetten in a recent letter to parliament. The