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AMSTERDAM, May 21 (Reuters) - A Dutch court will rule on arequest to restrict gas production at Eemskanaal, part of thelarge Groningen gas field, by June 1, Council of Statespokeswoman Sabine Heijstek-van Leussen said.
The court, which has previously rejected a request torestrict production at Eemskanaal, decided on Thursday it wouldissue a preliminary ruling on a second complaint lodged byresidents.
Production at Groningen has become increasinglycontroversial due to small earthquakes, which have damaged homesand buildings across the region.
Eemskanaal produces around 2 billion cubic metres (bcm) ofgas annually, or a little more than 5 percent of the total 39.4billion cubic metres theoretically allotted for the entireGroningen gas field this year.
In February, Dutch Economics Minister Henk Kamp orderedproduction in Groningen to be dialled back to 16.5 bcm for thefirst half of 2015 after the country's Safety Board found gascompanies, regulators and the government had all failed to takethe threat of earthquakes seriously enough.
That move sent gas prices surging in Northern Europe.
On July 1, Kamp is due to set production levels for the restof the year.
However, challenges to his plans at the Council of State --a court that hears citizen complaints about government decisions-- are set to continue. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; editing by Susan Thomas)