Fracking halted in England - a moratorium but not a complete ban

30 October 2019

In a surprise announncement which some commentators suspect may not be unconnected with the imminent general election, the UK government has imposed a moratorium on fracking for shale gas in England, citing an Oil and Gas Authority report published 2 November which concludes that it is not possible with current technology to accurately predict the probability of tremors associated with fracking.  Fracking activity was halted at Cuadrilla's Lancashire site after a tremor over three times the Government-prescribed limit occurred on 22 August 2019.

Similar pertial or complete fracking bans are already in effect in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Jillian Ambrose wrote in The Guardian of 2 November

"The government has halted fracking in England with immediate effect in a watershed moment for environmentalists and community activists.

"Ministers also warned shale gas companies it would not support future fracking projects, in a crushing blow to companies that had been hoping to capitalise on one of the new frontiers of growth in the fossil fuel industry.

"The decision draws a line under years of bitter opposition to the controversial extraction process in a major victory for green groups and local communities."

 

Read the full report 

Government press release