Shale Gas Loses Momentum in UK on Jobs Figure and Campaigns

Shale gas industry is losing momentum in the United Kingdom, with bad news coming from several fronts.

Firstly, the engineering consultancy that is advising the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) put forward a new figure about the jobs that could be created by the shale gas industry. The estimate provided by AMEC is roughly one third of the figure cited by David Cameron in August.

According to AMEC, 15,900 to 24,300 full-time equivalent jobs will be created by the shale gas industry at “peak construction.” Cameron hypothesized 74,000 new jobs. 

Even though the two figures refer to two different concepts – Cameron referred to accumulated jobs, AMEC to punctual numbers – it is clear that the new estimates downsized the estimated potential benefits of shale gas in the UK.

At the same time, the Frack Free UK campaign was signed by more than 27,000. After the protests in Balcombe, additional pressure is coming from environmentalists and public. 

On Monday, Greenpeace launched its anti-fracking campaign, claiming that horizontal drilling would be unlawful without permission. The charity urged landowners to veto drilling underneath their properties.

On Sunday, Shadow Energy Minister Caroline Flint’s accused the Government of wrongly building expectations. 

It seems that also some politicians are taking a step back, while environmentalists are ready to voice their concerns. Next months will probably decide the future of shale gas in the UK.