UK Trade Association Asks Commitment to Fracking

In a delicate moment for the fledging British shale gas industry, Oil & Gas UK intervened in the debate on Monday, arguing that fracking should not be ruled out. 

“The onshore unconventionals are not likely to make a major contribution to the gas supply situation in this country for eight to ten years, but that doesn't mean to say that we shouldn't be looking” Oil & Gas UK chief executive Malcolm Webb commented in his speech at the Aberdeen conference.  

Meanwhile, The Guardian published an analysis suggesting that the new rules agreed by the British government would ban fracking in two-fifth of the English land being offered for shale gas exploration.  

The newspaper pointed out that national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, sites of special scientific interests and groundwater source protection zones would represent 39.7% of the land available for shale gas drilling.