THE HAGUE, June 23 (Reuters) - Dutch Economy Minister HenkKamp ordered a further tightening of production at Groningen,Europe's largest gas field, in response to a spate ofearthquakes that have caused extensive property damage in theNetherlands' northernmost province.
Output at the field, the world's 10th largest, will becapped at 13.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) in the second half ofthis year, and at 30 bcm for the whole of 2015, Kamp said in astatement on Tuesday adding that the country would import moregas from January.
In February, output was cut to 16.5 bcm for the first halfof the year. That made for an annualised rate of 33 bcm, downfrom 39.4 previously after the Dutch Safety Board said gascompanies and state regulators had failed to take the threat ofearthquakes seriously enough. (Reporting By Toby Sterling, Editing by Thomas Escritt)