Dutch onshore gas production is to be reduced by 10% in an effort to alleviate fears of further earthquakes in northern Groningen province.

The cutback was made on the recommendation of the Dutch mining inspectorate which said the move is necessary to reduce the threat of further strong earthquakes in the province.

‘Begin with 10%… and see what seismic developments take place,’ inspector general Harry van der Meijden said in a statement on Tuesday.

Caretaker economic affairs minister Henk Kamp said the gas production would be turned down effective 1 October when the new gas fiscal year begins. Total production will be reduced to 21.6 billion cubic meters from 24 billon cubic meters.

The reduction will cost the treasury hundreds of millions of euros in lost income.