AMSTERDAM, Nov 12 (Reuters) - A Dutch court said on Thursdayit will rule on Nov. 18 regarding production at the massiveGroningen natural gas field, where output has been reducedbecause it was causing earthquakes.
The Council of State in September heard arguments in thecase, which is seeking to slow or stop production at Europe'slargest gas field.
The court will announce its final decision on complaintsfrom 40 groups ranging from the provincial government to smalltowns and individuals challenging the government's 2015production plans.
The Dutch government has already curtailed production fromGroningen twice this year after it was censured by public safetyauthorities for not taking the threat of production-linkedearthquakes seriously enough.
The field is operated by state-owned Gasunie, with outputjointly exploited by the government, Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil through NAM (Nederlandse AardolieMaatschappij). (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; editing by Jason Neely)