Table 11.2 The status of fracking in Europe, 2014
Austria
Exploration underway (e.g. OMV in basin near Vienna) but some calls for
laws to ban drilling on environmental grounds
Bulgaria
2012 – nationwide protests lead to suspension of Chevron’s exploratory shale
gas licence. National Assembly passes law banning all forms of fracking
Czech
Moratorium on fracking from 2012 to allow time to pass laws to take into
Republic
account the environmental impact of fracking
Denmark
Government views fracking as part of strategy to ease reliance on fossil fuels.
Total’s Danish affiliate and state-owned Nordsøfonden have two licences for
onshore drilling which started in 2013
France
Europe’s second largest shale gas reserves but fracking is banned. In October
2013, French Constitutional Council upholds fracking ban following petition
by Schuepbach Energy for restoration of exploration permits revoked
following imposition of the ban
Germany
February 2013 – draft proposals allowing fracking which uses same
technology as in US but new coalition government and widespread opposition
put fracking on hold for the foreseeable future. July 2014, government
proposes seven year ban on fracking at depths shallower then 3,000 metres
Hungary
2009 – Exxon Mobil drill first shale gas wells
Ireland
2011 – options and licences awarded to Energi Oil, Tamboran Resources and
Lough Allen Natural Gas Company. 2012 Energy Minister says no fracking to
take place in Ireland pending further scientific evidence and advice
Italy
Bomba, small southern Italian city refuses a drilling project
Luxembourg 2012 – drilling for shale gas suspended and moratorium imposed
Netherlands
Several operators hold licences for exploratory shale gas drilling but
government is investigating the environmental impact of shale gas
exploration. Meanwhile southern city of Boxtel stops plans for exploratory
drilling
Poland
Europe’s largest reserves of shale gas and much drilling underway. Shale gas
promises the possibility of reducing Poland’s high level of dependency on
coal and on Russian gas
Romania
Reputedly Europe’s third largest shale gas reserves. Despite nationwide
protests, a moratorium on drilling for shale gas lifted in 2013. Government
supports fracking on grounds of energy independence and lower prices but
anti-fracking demonstrations continue
Spain
2013 – northern region of Cantabria bans fracking on environmental grounds
– goes against national government’s aspiration for jobs in a region rich in
shale gas
Sweden
Exploratory drilling underway
UK
Some drilling but no commercial production underway.
2011 – Cuadrilla suspends drilling near Blackpool after two small earthquakes
reported.
2012 – drilling restarted subject to stricter monitoring.
2012 – Northern Ireland Assembly calls for moratorium on fracking pending
environmental assessment but moratorium not enacted by the minister