Britain makes surprise U-turn by calling halt to fracking just weeks before national polls
- Country had been looking to controversial method of unlocking oil and gas from underground as a way of securing its future energy independence
- But environmental issues are expected to feature prominently when Britain heads to the ballot box in December
The British government on Saturday called a halt to the controversial process of “fracking” due to fears it could trigger earthquakes, in a surprise U-turn just weeks before a general election.
Until now, Britain had hoped that fracking – banned in many countries, but booming in the United States – could help secure its future energy independence.
But with just a few weeks to go before Britain goes to the polls – where environmental issues are expected to feature prominently – business and energy secretary Andrea Leadsom announced a “moratorium” at what is currently Britain’s only operational shale gas well in Lancashire, northwest England.
“I have concluded that we should put a moratorium on fracking in England with immediate effect,” Leadsom said.
“It is clear that we cannot rule out future unacceptable impacts on the local community.”
The U-turn follows a report by Britain’s Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) into recent seismic activity at Preston New Road, a site operated by exploration and production company Cuadrilla.