Shell and Exxon’s Gas Profits Shake Groningen—Literally

Nothing Says “Sustainable Business” Like an Earthquake Every Few Months

It’s another day, another earthquake in Groningen, where decades of reckless gas extraction by Shell and ExxonMobil’s joint venture, NAM, have left the ground as unstable as their ethical standards. This time, a 2.2 magnitude quake hit the town of Usquert just after midnight, shaking homes, rattling windows, and waking residents with a hard, dull thud. Coincidentally, that’s also the sound of Shell executives ignoring accountability.

“Induced Earthquakes”: Just a Fancy Term for Corporate Destruction

The KNMI meteorological institute wasted no time in confirming what everyone already knew: this was an “induced earthquake,” meaning it wasn’t some random act of nature—it was a direct consequence of Shell and ExxonMobil sucking every last drop of gas from the earth, leaving behind a crumbling foundation.

But don’t worry, no injuries were reported—unless, of course, you count the tens of thousands of residents who’ve seen their homes crack, their walls crumble, and their communities turned into an unstable mess.

Profits Over People: The Groningen Story

Since gas extraction began in the Slochteren gas field in 1963, the Dutch state has pocketed €360 billion in revenue, while Shell and ExxonMobil, co-owners of NAM, have casually split another €66 billion.

And what did the people of Groningen get? 1,600 earthquakes and 85,000 damaged buildings. That’s right—tens of thousands of homes cracked like eggshells while Shell, Exxon, and the Dutch government cashed in on the region’s destruction.

Anjo de Haan from Warffum told RTV Noord: “The quake woke me up. There was a dull, hard knock, and the windows and doors shook.”

Dull, hard knocks? Sounds a lot like every single investigation into Shell’s conduct.

Shell’s Classic Strategy: Extract, Destroy, Deny

You’d think after six decades of seismic destruction, someone would step in to stop this. But no, the Groningen gas field was only shut down last year, and even then, Shell and the Dutch government are still eyeing more gas extraction in the Warffum region. Because when you’ve already made tens of billions from turning an entire province into a geological disaster zone, why stop now?

And if history tells us anything, Shell will spend more time spying on activists (hello, Hakluyt!) than actually compensating the people whose homes they’ve ruined.

A Parliamentary Slap on the Wrist

In 2023, a Dutch parliamentary commission finally admitted what everyone knew all along: Groningen’s residents had been systematically ignored by both the government and energy companies for decades. Groundbreaking revelation, right? In response, the government pledged €22 billion over the next 30 years for compensation measures—a fraction of the €426 billion this operation has generated.

Translation: “Here’s some pocket change, now stop complaining.”

The Bottom Line? Groningen Will Keep Shaking Until Shell Stops Drilling

The people of Groningen have paid the price for Shell’s greed with their homes, safety, and peace of mind. But Shell’s biggest investors, like BlackRock and Vanguard, aren’t complaining—as long as the profits keep rolling in, who cares if a few more homes collapse?

So, what’s next? Another earthquake next month? More government inaction? Shell shifting the blame to someone else while collecting another fat paycheck? All of the above.

Because when it comes to corporate destruction, Shell never stops drilling—even when the ground starts falling apart.

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