UK’s fracking position ‘has not changed’ despite move to phase out Russian oil
The UK’s position on fracking “has not changed”, and shale gas wells will be closed with concrete by the 30 June deadline despite pressure from the rightwing press and backbench Conservatives, according to a government spokesperson.
On Tuesday, Steve Baker, the MP for High Wycombe and trustee of the controversial climate sceptic thinktank Global Warming Policy Foundation, hosted the shale gas lobby along with MPs and journalists in the Houses of Parliament. The event took place as the government committed to phasing out Russian oil and gas by the end of the year, and reports in rightwing media suggested that fracking could be revived in the UK.
Not only is fracking potentially polluting, disruptive and dangerous to communities, many experts say it would take up to a decade to reap any benefits, and the amount of gas would not make a dent in the global price. Where fracking has been trialled, there has been major local opposition and anger due to earthquakes caused.
But the UK Onshore Oil and Gas lobby group described opposition to fracking as “illogical”, and Baker said: “As preparations are made for cement trucks to fill in the UK’s last functioning shale gas wells, it is obscene that Russia’s war crimes are being funded by Europe’s addiction to their gas. “Under the government’s plans, we will need vast quantities of gas even as renewables are ramped up. It is time for all of us to listen to facts, not scare stories. The shale gas industry needs a level playing field and an end to hysterical misinformation.”
Reports in the Daily Mail and Telegraph suggested that Boris Johnson may be looking again at fracking despite the pollution it can cause.
A source at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy told the
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