Netherlands Bitumen : Netherlands Bit Witnesses Robust Growth Amidst Increasing Infrastructure Development

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The Netherlands has a long history of bitumen production dating back to the 18th century. Some of the earliest and largest deposits of bitumen were discovered in the province of Limburg in the 1740s. Mining of bitumen began in earnest in the late 18th century and steadily increased throughout the 19th century. By the 1850s, the Netherlands had become one of the world's largest producers and exporters of bitumen. Much of the bitumen extracted came from open pit mines located near the towns of Tegelen and Beek. At its peak in the early 20th century, annual bitumen production in Limburg exceeded 150,000 tons.

Current Bitumen Production And Netherlands Bitumen

While open pit mining was phased out by the 1960s, the Netherlands remains an important producer and exporter of bitumen to this day. Most bitumen extraction now occurs through drilling and occurs onshore as well as offshore in the northern provinces. The largest onshore fields are located near Schoonebeek, Assen and Ten Boer. Bitumen is extracted through a combination of conventional and thermal recovery techniques. Conventional drilling recovers bitumen ...
... through pumping while thermal techniques such as steam-assisted gravity drainage help extract heavier and more viscous bitumen deposits. The largest offshore fields are in the northern North Sea near the coasts of Friesland and Groningen. Total annual production of bitumen and bitumen products in the Netherlands averages around 4 million tons.

Major Bitumen Producers And Refining Capabilities

Three large petrochemical companies dominate commercial bitumen production in the Netherlands - Shell, NALCO and AkzoNobel. Shell operates large drilling and extraction facilities near Schoonebeek as well as offshore rigs in the North Sea. It also operates the largest bitumen refinery in the Europoort industrial complex near Rotterdam. NALCO owns offshore rigs and onshore fields near Assen while also operating refineries. AkzoNobel extracts bitumen from fields near Ten Boer and ships it to refineries. The refineries upgrade raw bitumen into various refined bitumen products like paving grade bitumen, oxidized bitumen and bitumen emulsions. Much of the refined bitumen is exported but a large portion is also used domestically in road construction and other infrastructure projects.

Role In Dutch Economy And Future Outlook

Despite declining reserves, bitumen production remains an important  for the Dutch economy, directly employing over 5,000 people. Revenues from bitumen extraction and exports are estimated at over 2 billion euros annually. The refined bitumen  has even greater economic impacts through secondary employment and industrial activity generated at refineries. While many of the largest onshore reserves have been depleted, advances in offshore drilling technology mean significant untapped reserves remain.

Future production is also expected to transition more towards extraction of extra-heavy oil deposits and oil sands. Sustained high global demand for refined bitumen products bodes well for the long-term prospects of the  in the Netherlands. Ongoing exploration and innovation will be crucial to sustain economic contributions from this historically significant natural resource.

Get more insights on this topic: https://dailygram.com/blog/1306277/netherlands-bitumen-netherlands-taking-lead-in-bitumen-production-and-expor/

Author Bio:

Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163)