NATURALGAS

Commercially viable gas sources were discovered in the Netherlands in 1948. Exploitation by the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) began in 1959–1960 when an enormous re serve was found near Slochteren in the province of Groningen. Since 1988, the average annual domestic output has been about 45 billion cubic meters (1.6 trillion cubic feet). Benefits for the Dutch Treasury have amounted to more than 200 billion euros in the period 1963–2006, constituting a substantial part of the state’s income.