Graham Stuart, the UK’s climate minister, has defended the decision to lift the ban on fracking. He claimed shale gas extraction will benefit the environment.
He was speaking to the Environmental Audit Committee this week. Mr Stuart said given the issues faced by both families and also businesses not exploring the UK’s fossil fuels would be irresponsible.
His argument for doing so is based on the emissions generated by importing gas.
He told the Environmental Audit Committee:
“Producing it domestically produces only half the emissions around the production and transport of importing liquid natural gas from around the world.”
“Sometimes it is ironic to hear people somehow outraged that we produce more oil and gas here when it has much lower emissions around its production than foreign imports.”
“Clearly domestic production is good and we should all get behind that.”
Actual quantities of shale in the UK are unknown. It could small amount or a significant amount. The last data estimated between 822 and 2281 trillion cubic feet of fossil fuel gas held in Bowland Shale gas.
It was proposed that more exploration needs to be done to establish how much resource is available.
Mr Stuart believes there are also economic benefits to be had by increasing exploration of fossil fuels in the UK.
Economic Benefits To Be Gained According To Climate Minister
He said:
“If it can be done with local support, if it can be done with lower emissions than imports and if we have the most rigorous environmental requirements that can be fulfilled and it is economically viable – on what rational basis would you not want to do more exploratory wells and find out the data?”
“Not least the liquid natural gas we are bringing in with so little fuss has twice the production of edmissions of domestically produced gas.”
“It is good for jobs, good for the ecconomy. Even though it sounds counterintuitive it is good for the environment. It is because we are a net importer and we will continue to be a net importer.”
“Our production is declining faster than the IEA says is required of oil and gas production around the world.”
For fracking to go ahead, the government has made it clear companies will need support from the community.
Mr Stuart also confirmed they were still looking into ways in working with local communities to win their support. When asked if this would involve local authorities he said nothing was off the table.