Fracking

A 2019 ban on hydraulic fracturing has been lifted by the new U.K. government, despite a new report stating that forecasting the geological impact remains a ...

[says](https://cuadrillaresources.uk/about-fracking/) the clay on its site is "very well suited" to fracking and that it would conduct daily seismicity monitoring if operations restart. A report commissioned by the government in April and published Thursday found it was still not possible to accurately predict geological activity as a result of U.K. Critics argue the issue is instead around the need to reduce the U.K.'s reliance on natural gas more broadly, which [currently accounts](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1032260/UK_Energy_in_Brief_2021.pdf) for around 40% U.K. [found](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/237330/MacKay_Stone_shale_study_report_09092013.pdf) that shale gas operations themselves would contribute relatively little to greenhouse gas emissions. [according to polling firm YouGov](https://yougov.co.uk/topics/science/trackers/should-britain-start-extracting-shale-gas), but remained at only 27% in May; while there are organized campaign groups opposing fracking around the U.K. is very different to the U.S., where energy independence has been achieved largely through [new business and energy chief Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/07/uks-new-energy-chief-says-fracking-interesting-we-need-fossil-fuels.html), insist fracking will play a key role in making Britain a net energy exporter by 2040. On news of the ban lifting, he said it had been "demonstrated without doubt the geology here is not suitable." Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves injecting water, chemicals and sand into cracks in the earth at high pressure, widening them to allow the extraction of oil, or in the case of the U.K., gas from shale formations. They also want to increase North Sea oil and gas production, announcing a new oil and gas exploration licensing round Thursday, alongside increased deployment of hydrogen, solar and offshore wind. - A 2019 ban on hydraulic fracturing has been lifted by the new U.K. The ban was introduced in November 2019 after several tremors, and finally a magnitude 2.9 earthquake, were recorded near the U.K.'s only active fracking site, in the English county of Lancashire.

The Business Secretary accused opponents of 'hysteria' and 'ludditery' as he took questions on the lifting of the moratorium on shale gas extraction.

[Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) fracking has been funded by Mr Putin’s regime.” [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. “What I think he may have been trying to articulate is that it is absolutely essential we have energy security as a country and one of the roots to that is to broaden and diversify our domestic energy production and fracking is one crucial element in that.” By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our He added: “This (fracking) is of such importance, and it is sheer ludditery that opposes it.” During the urgent question, which was raised by Mr Miliband, Mr Rees-Mogg also accused fracking opponents of “hysteria” and “ludditery”. The Business Secretary replied: “I’m well aware that there have been objections to fracking, but I would also note that there have been stories widely reported that some of the opposition to … [Cat Smith](/topic/cat-smith), MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, told the lower chamber: “One thing I think the Secretary of State is perhaps not aware of, is the strength of opposition to fracking in communities like mine in Lancashire.” Mr Rees-Mogg told MPs he is “well aware” there are people who are opposed to fracking, but noted “some of the opposition” has been funded by Mr Putin’s regime. [Jacob Rees-Mogg](/topic/jacob-rees-mogg) has claimed there have been widely reported stories that opposition to fracking has been funded by the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin. [Commons](/topic/commons) on the lifting of the moratorium on shale gas extraction.

The British Geological Survey, commissioned by the government, says forecasting the occurrence of large earthquakes from fracking and their expected magnitude ...

[Energy Transition Investment Trends](https://about.bnef.com/energy-transition-investment/) [report](https://about.bnef.com/energy-transition-investment/) from BloombergNEF also painted the future as clean energy, saying renewables are now the default choice for most countries looking to add or replace power-generating capacity. Some could argue Rees-Mogg is the luddite for backing more fossil fuel extraction, which dates back at scale to the 1800s. It seems to think that it is a straight arithmetic scale, which of course it is not.” “The hysteria about seismic activity fails to understand that the Richter scale is a logarithmic scale. When the fracking-induced earthquake at Preston New Road struck on a August bank holiday Monday, it was felt across the region. The British Geological Survey, commissioned by the government, says forecasting the occurrence of large earthquakes from fracking and their expected magnitude is complex and remains a scientific challenge. This week Lord Deben, chair of the Climate Change Committee, warned ministers to look at the facts. They are not charities, after all.” If shale gas is produced at scale in England it will be sold at international market, something acknowledged by the current chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, who said this year: “If we lifted the fracking moratorium, it would take up to a decade to extract sufficient volumes – and it would come at a high cost for communities and our precious countryside. Rees-Mogg is correct in one sense; the Richter scale is logarithmic, which means a one unit increase in magnitude corresponds to a tenfold increase in amplitude. “It is safe, it is shown to be safe, the scare stories have been disproved time and time again.” Fracking also risks contaminating groundwater, according to the BGS, which says: “Groundwater may be potentially contaminated by extraction of shale gas both from the constituents of shale gas itself, from the formulation and deep injection of water containing a cocktail of additives used for hydraulic fracturing and from flowback water which may have a high content of saline formation water.”

Anti-fracking protesters in Lancashire return to the site of the UK's only shale gas wells.

[danger to the public](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-61008749)", has vowed "to continue to fight on behalf of our local communities". He added "tolerating a higher degree of risk and disturbance appears to us to be in the national interest given the circumstances." He added it would drive job creation in the north of England and would generate "much needed tax revenues for central and local government, and help tackle spiralling gas prices". Mr Burnham added Greater Manchester has a policy of a ban on fracking and would be prepared to a "stand off" with the government about the issue. He said: "It won't release energy to sort out the cost-of-living crisis, it won't be able to be done that quickly", adding there "aren't that many jobs in it". "Cuadrilla is determined that a portion of all shale gas revenue should be delivered to local residents as a community dividend," Francis Egan, chief executive of the firm, said. Cuadrilla said local communities "stand to benefit most" from the announcement. [BBC Radio Manchester](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_manchester) it was "bad news" and a "very divisive policy" with the risks associated with fracking. "It will bring millions of pounds into the local economy and the Treasury." She said she thought protesting there was all in the past and the news has brought back the "trauma" of it. Fracking "destroys lives and the land", she said, but the government "don't care about communities". He said the move could bring in "much needed gas flowing into the national grid within the next six months".

The UK government on Thursday lifted England's moratorium on the fracking process to extract oil and gas, saying the move aims to shore up energy security ...

Likewise experts anticipate fracking will not reduce energy costs, and will take years for operations to get underway. It is safe in the United States.” “To bolster the UK's energy security, the UK government has today lifted the moratorium on shale gas production in England,” the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said in a statement.

Jacob-Rees Mogg faces a backlash from MPs in areas of England where fracking could cause disruption.

remains a scientific challenge for the geoscience community." Within shale rock there can be small faults and areas of stress. "We now have an energy policy run for big fossil fuel interests not for the British people. The water lubricates the shale rock, moving parts of the rock along these faults, and this movement can trigger a tremor. He added: "The safety of the public is not a currency in which some of us choose to speculate." She pledged that local support would be needed for sites to go ahead - and the Conservative manifesto for the 2019 general election said fracking would only be reconsidered if "the science shows categorically that it can be done safely". But Conservative former minister Sir Greg Knight told MPs the risks of shale gas exploration were an "unknown quantity" and "the occurrence of seismic events as a result of fracking remains a challenge to the experts". Mr Rees-Mogg said fracking was in the national interest and would make the country richer - and he accused Mr Miliband and others who spoke out against it of being "luddites". The MP for Bolsover, a former Labour stronghold in Derbyshire, said: "I've listened carefully to the secretary of state and I have to say the local consent plans don't seem to wash. The Tory MP for Rushcliffe, Ruth Edwards, said: "I have many concerned constituents who want to know that they have a genuine route to rejecting fracking applications that don't have local support, and I'm still not clear what that would be." Tory MP Mark Fletcher said it appeared communities would be "bought off" to allow fracking - a technique for recovering gas and oil from shale rock - under the government's plans. He told MPs: "We should not be ashamed of paying people who are going to be the ones who don't get the immediate benefit of the gas but have the disruption."

Mark Menzies challenges business secretary to 'lead by example' and start drilling in North East Somerset.

“For those Conservative MPs who don’t have shale gas and think it’s all fabulous, I would say think if it was your constituency and the people you represent. I took the view that you had to consider whether it could be done safely, if local people could come with you, if it has benefits locally or nationally. He said: “A question put to the secretary of state was how do you define local consent – it was put to him eight times – and answer there was none. However, after experiencing disruption, local anger and earthquakes, with no benefits to the constituency, he has become a vocal opponent of shale gas extraction locally. “I believe the secretary of state has shale gas in his constituency,” he said. “It would be great for him to lead by example on this, so why doesn’t he ensure the first shale wells are fracked in his constituency and why not?

My group, Nanas Against Fracking, is a force to be reckoned with, says campaigner Tina Rothery.

We rejoiced in every new face who joined the movement (and those people who returned again and became familiar faces). What about the issues with maternal health – for example, an increased rate of stillbirths, for which there is some [evidence in Utah](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/whats-killing-the-babies-of-vernal-utah-33666/)? [lift the moratorium](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/22/fracking-could-impact-many-protected-areas-across-england-as-ban-is-lifted) yesterday sent shockwaves through our community. [earthquake measuring 2.9](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/26/latest-fracking-tremor-believed-to-be-uk-biggest-yet-cuadrilla-blackpool) on the Richter scale. We watched the share prices of the Australian firm AJ Lucas (Cuadrilla’s parent company), and celebrated when they fell after delays and bad press brought about by our activities at its site. [Nanas Against Fracking](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/13/dont-frack-with-us-the-vivtorious-nanas-of-lancashire-activism), a group I co-founded, started protesting at the site that day too, and continued for more than 1,000 days. He said he had believed that working, paying his taxes, never breaking the law, raising his family, and owning his home meant that he was part of a democratic society, that he could call on the government if he felt at risk. Will we, like some of them, see higher incidences of [childhood leukaemia](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/children-born-near-fracking-sites-have-an-increased-risk-for-leukemia-180980641/)? We made sure there was a role for everyone in this movement, regardless of their age, ability, background or location. [rejected planning applications](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/29/fracking-application-cuadrilla-rejected-lancashire-county-council) from the fracking firm Cuadrilla for two large sites between Preston and Blackpool. At its height, the anti-fracking movement in the UK was made up of 300 autonomous groups across the country. Even if it is possible to “ [“monitor](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/16/uk-fracking-review-earthquake-limits)” earthquakes, which are one of the most immediately dangerous risks of fracking, the government had to face the fact that you can’t control them.