UK government halts support for shale gas fracking

Fracking (or hydraulic fracturing) - which uses high pressure fluids to create cracks in sub-surface rocks in order to release trapped gas - will not be allowed to proceed in England until new evidence is provided that the process is safe, the government has said.

The decision was made on the basis of a report by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), which found that it is not currently possible to accurately predict the probability or magnitude of earthquakes linked to fracking operations.

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The publication of the report follows a series of seismic tremors at the UK’s only fracking site, which is operated by Cuadrilla, including a 2.9 magnitude tremor this August.

Commenting on the decision to halt fracking business and energy secretary Andrea Leadsom said: “Whilst acknowledging the huge potential of UK shale gas to provide a bridge to a zero carbon future, I’ve also always been clear that shale gas exploration smust be carried out safely.  After reviewing the OGA’s report into recent seismic activity at Preston New Road, it is clear that we cannot rule out future unacceptable impacts on the local community.