German Parliament Urges Caution on Fracking
Germany's upper house of parliament has formally urged Chancellor Merkel's government to tighten the rules for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for unconventional gas.
The Bundesrat, which represents Germany's 16 federal states, passed a resolution demanding an assessment of the environmental impact of fracking and public consultation before it can be started.
"This is about rejecting the use of this technology until the risks are cleared up 100 percent," Torsten Albig, the Social Democrat (SPD) premier of the northern state of Schleswig Holstein, said according to Reuters.
The resolution was proposed by states run by the opposition SPD and Green Party in the upper house, where Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition does not dominate.
Permits for fracking are issued by individual states, not the national government. These should only be granted if it is absolutely clear that there is no possibility of the water supply being affected, according to the resolution.
Last December the German parliament voted to allow fracking, but under strict environmental controls.
Germany produces currently only 14%of the gas it uses.