GWPF Urges UK Fracking

In the light of political tensions escalating mid-March between the UK and Russia, the UK climate-sceptic group Global Warming Policy Foundation is urging the government "to deliver speedily upon its manifesto commitment to change planning law for shale applications," it said March 16.

“The length of time it has been taking for shale gas extraction to get planning approval demonstrates that the system is utterly failing. An approach is needed that can bring about swift but considered planning decisions, and that also provides the necessary reassurances for local communities that the environment is protected and disruption minimised.”

"The submission emphasises the need for Britain to develop its shale resources to avoid becoming almost wholly reliant on foreign imports for its gas supply in the near future. Recent winter shortages have forced Britain to import emergency gas supplies from Russia. Moreover, Russia also provided about half of the coal used in UK last year. This growing energy dependence is a wholly unsustainable situation given Russia’s recent destructive and destabilising behaviour," it said.

While the UK does not have that much direct reliance on Russian gas, its greater availability in Europe during this winter's cold snap did help to keep a lid on prices across the region, while LNG went to higher-priced markets.

GWPF said: "An important first step will be to change the law to class ‘non-fracking’ drilling as permitted development. This was an explicit manifesto commitment, and it would stop activists from delaying even preliminary stages of onshore oil and gas exploration.

"The failure to deliver thus far has meant lost jobs, lower growth and missed opportunities for many people right across the country. But with the necessarily political will, the situation can rapidly change. There is no time to waste."

Fracking has met stiff opposition in the UK from locals worried about the risk to drinking water, greater road traffic and other threats to their way of life. There is also a very stiff regulatory regime in place. However one company, Cuadrilla, said its preliminary samples of rock were very encouraging and expects to frack two completed wells by the end of June this year.