BBC News Science and Environment
Gas fracking: Ministers approve shale gas
extraction
By Roger Harrabin Environment analyst
Cuadrilla CEO Francis Egan: "The country is running out of gas, our choice would be to develop our own
shale gas resources"
The government has given the go-ahead for a firm to resume the controversial technique known
as fracking to exploit gas in Lancashire. The company, Cuadrilla, was stopped from fracking
after two tremors near Blackpool. Conditions have been imposed to minimise the risk of seismic
activity.
In fracking, a mixture of water, sand and some chemicals is pumped into a well under high
pressure to force the gas from the rock.
Energy Secretary Ed Davey said shale gas was a promising new potential energy resource for
the UK. It might contribute significantly to energy security and substitute for imports which are
increasing as North Sea gas is decreasing.
But he warned against over-excitement: "We are still in the very early stages of shale gas
exploration in the UK and it is likely to develop slowly.
"It is essential that its development should not come at the expense of local communities or the
environment. Fracking must be safe and the public must be confident that it is safe."
He said the government had uncovered management weaknesses in Cuadrilla following the
minor earthquakes. These had been put right, he said.
He said impacts on water and local air pollution were already covered by the UK's existing
"stringent" rules on oil and gas.
'Better solution'
Mr Davey said the advent of shale gas would not weaken the UK's legally binding targets to cut
greenhouse gas emissions. He announced a study from the Department for Energy and Climate
Change (DECC) chief scientist David McKay on the impact of shale gas on climate change.
But he asked: "Is it not better that we produce gas in this country than gas shipped half way
across the world?" He said his view was that, overall, greenhouse gases from shale gas in the
UK might only be slightly greater than importing gas exploited in the conventional way. In the
US, exploitation of shale gas boom has sent energy prices tumbling, and the Prime Minister has
expressed hopes that the UK can enjoy a similar boom.
But government advisers warn today that shale gas may be unlikely to bring down energy prices
much in Britain. In fact, the Committee on Climate Change warns that relying heavily on gas for
future electricity supplies would leave households vulnerable to higher bills in the long run as
the price of gas on the international market is volatile.
The UK won't benefit from substantially lower prices unless the rest of Europe decides to back
shale gas too, as Europe has a gas grid that allows gas to be traded to the highest bidder. The
CCC has examined the potential impact on bills of different energy systems and predicts that
subsidies to renewables and nuclear would put about £100 on household bills by 2020, but that
by 2050 a gas-based electricity system might cost people as much as £600 extra.
Today's fracking decision has created political excitement as the Prime Minister the Chancellor
and some business leaders have spoken enthusiastically about shale gas.
Environmentalists are more cautious following incidents in the US in which fracking has been
associated with pollution of water through the chemicals involved in the process, as well as
leakage of methane - a powerful greenhouse gas as well as a local air pollutant.
Analysis
Andrew Fagg Political Producer
Nobody has ever attempted hydraulic fracturing near Westminster. But it has caused several
tremors during the past year. To the surprise of many, the Conservative energy minister Charles
Hendry was sacked in the autumn reshuffle. He said it would be unwise to "bet the farm" on
shale gas. In his stead came John Hayes, who promptly told the Conservative Party conference
that shale gas represented a "huge opportunity".
The Prime Minister and the Chancellor have matched the rhetoric. David Cameron has said he
wants the UK to join the "gas revolution taking place across the world". George Osborne
announced a consultation on tax breaks for the industry last week -- well before today's
moratorium was lifted.
But their keenness to see fracking in the UK has come up against a hard rock, in the shape of
the Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Davey. He has agreed to the
lifting of the moratorium, but only with the addition of controls on seismic risks. "I don't think
anyone would describe me as a frackhead," he told MPs this morning.
They say fracking will generate much more opposition in the UK than it has in the US as it
involves turning green fields into industrial sites.
They also worry that an abundance of domestic gas will tempt politicians to abandon targets for
cutting greenhouse gases, which are rising inexorably globally to the alarm of scientists.
A poll suggested that people would prefer to have wind turbines on the horizon than gas rigs.
Steve Radley, Director of Policy at EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, said the UK should do
whatever possible to keep energy costs down: "This is a major threat that needs to be
addressed now as we cannot continue to load industry with costs which are in excess of our
competitors.," he said.
Caroline Flint MP, Labour's Shadow Energy Secretary, said: "Labour has always said that
fracking should only go ahead if it is shown to be safe and environmentally sound. If the
Government believes that this is the case then we will look carefully at their proposals.
"But the idea that this form of gas extraction can have the same impact here in the UK as it has
had on gas prices in the United States is considered wishful thinking by most experts."
Reference
BBC (2012) Gas fracking: ministers approve shale gas extraction ‘http://www.bbc.co.uk accessed
13/12/2012