A spokesperson for The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) described shale gas, produced through hydraulic fracturing (fracking), as an important new domestic energy source, which could help support the transition to zero emissions by 2050, by reducing carbon emissions from gas imports. This announcement coincides with Cuadrilla’s announcement that it will resume fracking activities in Lancashire until late November, reported on here.

The BEIS spokesperson referred to an ongoing scientific assessment by the Oil and Gas Authority, which the BEIS will consider upon its completion. This has caused concern within environmental protection groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. They fear that the Government will cave to industry pressure to remove or raise the 0.5 Richter scale legal limit on seismic levels that are direct results from fracking. Cuadrilla has been forced to pause operations six times to run tests after seismic tremors surpassed the legal limit.

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