General – Dutch Joint Effort
In a joint effort, the Dutch cabinet, Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) and industry association Element NL signed the ‘Sector Agreement on Gas Production in the Energy Transition’ on 23 April 2025.
This agreement is a step towards increasing gas production in the North Sea, to strengthen the Netherlands’ energy independence and reduce its impact on the climate.
It aims to make more efficient use of the remaining natural gas in the North Sea in order to ensure a stable energy supply and reduce dependence on foreign gas supplies. Dutch Minister for Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans underlined the importance of the move: ‘In an increasingly unstable world, it is important that we take responsibility for our own energy supply.
To make investments in gas production more attractive, EBN is increasing its participation in gas projects from 40% to a maximum of 85%. This will reduce the financial risk for companies and encourage the development of new gas production projects.
Producing gas from the North Sea is considered more environmentally friendly than, for example, importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States. Studies have shown that greenhouse gas emissions from the production and transport of Dutch gas are significantly lower than those from imported LNG.
For the Dutch industry, the agreement means a more stable and sustainable energy supply. Increased domestic gas production has the potential to contribute to more stable energy prices and provide opportunities for investment in infrastructure and technologies that support the energy transition.
With this agreement, the Netherlands is taking a strategic step towards a more independent and sustainable energy supply, balancing economic interests and climate objectives.
