Fracking permits for half of Britain
NEARLY half of Britain is set to be opened up to fracking by oil and gas companies, under new exploration licences the Government will award next month.
UNPOPULAR: A demonstrator protests outside the entrance to IGas Energy exploratory gas drilling site
Friends of the Earth estimates that 43 per cent of Britain’s land mass is covered by the new licences, which will be issued by the Department for Energy and Climate Change in two tranches, the first in August, the second at the end of the year.
A total of 80 firms have submitted bids for the licences being made available under the ministry’s “14th licensing round”.
The Government believes that shale oil and gas exploration will create jobs and boost local economies.
FRACTIOUS: Protesters in Sussex aim to stop lorries entering a fracking site
We want to get shale moving and this is a clear example of the Government’s progress, while upholding our strong environmental controls
However, fracking is bitterly opposed by environmental pressure groups and residents in Sussex and Lancashire, who have fought the fracking plans of Celtique Energy and Cuadrilla Resources respectively.
Opponents are concerned about earth tremors and air and water pollution.
Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Donna Hume said: “These new licences could open 43 per cent of the country up to fracking but the people of Balcombe and Lancashire have shown that you cannot impose unpopular fracking on communities that clearly do not want their health and local environment put at risk.”
Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom said: “We want to get shale moving and this is a clear example of the Government’s progress, while upholding our strong environmental controls."