Cuadrilla allowed to delay closure of Lancashire fracking wells

theguardian.com:

The UK’s oil and gas regulator has withdrawn a demand that the fracking firm Cuadrilla plug and abandon two wells in Lancashire, amid concerns about the UK’s energy security after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Weeks after Boris Johnson appeared to waver over the government’s moratorium on fracking, imposed in 2019, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) issued a ruling that indicates the door to the controversial technology could be reopened.

A Westminster official dismissed as “nonsense” Labour’s claim that the decision had been taken due to pressure from the government.

The NTSA had ordered Cuadrilla to permanently shut its wells at Preston New Road and Elswick by the end of June. But, after the exploration company applied on 28 March to have the decision reversed, the NSTA ruled that it could delay plugging the wells for a year.

“Cuadrilla now have until the end of June next year to evaluate options for the Preston New Road and Elswick sites,” the authority said.

“If no credible re-use plans are in place by then, the North Sea Transition Authority expects to reimpose decommissioning requirements.”

The statement indicates that Cuadrilla could use the extra year to draw up proposals on how to mitigate concerns, such as noise and water pollution, or small tremors that have been linked to the fracking process. A complete U-turn by the government on its opposition to fracking might allow the company to proceed with its original plans.

Kwasi Kwarteng, the minister for business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) has previously been unequivocal about his opposition to fracking, and has said the production of shale gas would not help reduce UK gas prices.