AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The dangers caused by gas extraction at the massive Groningen field were ignored for years by operators Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp and government agencies, the Dutch Safety Board said in a report on Wednesday.
A correlation between gas extraction and earthquakes in the region was clear in 1993, the board said, but "the risks to residents were not recognized".
Maximizing profit was prioritized over safety issues, said the board.
(Reporting By Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Pravin Char)