Gas
fracking: Ministers approve shale gas extraction
BBC,
13
December, 2012
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.
"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.
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.
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."
Cue earthquakes and sinkholes.
ReplyDeleteWe are wrecking the place for oil.