German Government to Tighten Fracking Rules, UK Public Voices Support

While German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet reportedly signed a draft law on Wednesday that tighten rules on fracking till 2019, the United Kingdom continues on its way towards shale gas exploration.  A survey commissioned by Greenpeace found that 42% of the 2,035 people interviewed in March would support fracking.

‘The British public is broadly divided about the prospect of companies fracking in Britain, with 42% supporting the idea and slightly fewer (35%) opposing it’ reads the note presenting the survey carried out by ComRes. 

INEOS, which is the third company in terms of UK onshore oil and gas licences, welcomed the results, saying that it indicates that British population is increasingly in favour of shale gas exploration.  

“We welcome the Com Res survey results. It clearly shows that more and more people are seeing the potentially huge benefits of UK produced shale gas” INEOS Director, Tom Crotty, commented on Wednesday.  

A few hours later, Merkel’s cabinet signed a law that, after parliament’s approval, would basically ban shale gas fracking till 2019. After that, drilling would be conditional to the green light of a special committee. 

"Protecting health and drinking water are top priorities. For this reason, we want to restrict fracking as far as possible," Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said during a news conference, as reported by Reuters. 

Germany's draft law bans the use of hydraulic fracturing technology for drilling operations shallower than 3,000 meters. It blocks any fracking operations  in nature reserves and national parks.