According to the parliamentary committee of inquiry, ExxonMobil and Shell must waive a claim for damages for Groningen gas that cannot be extracted. Instead, they should make money available for home reinforcements and damage handling.
Both oil companies are involved in gas extraction in Groningen through NAM. Because extraction has recently been phased out, the companies are missing out on income. They think they should be compensated for this.
The committee calls it “shocking” that Shell and ExxonMobil – who together earned more than 60 billion euros from the extraction – want compensation. The oil companies should make money available for the duped Groningers. This could strengthen their houses and compensate for other damage.
In its report, the committee of inquiry that investigated gas extraction in Groningen was very harsh about how the interests of the people of Groningen were dealt with. Their situation has been systematically ignored by the government and the oil companies. This happened despite the damage that was visible to houses and the uncertainty that the victims had continuously because of the earthquakes.
NAM and Shell will respond later in the day.
