The chief executive of Britain’s first shale gas company has criticized Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to reinstate a ban on fracking, calling it a ‘beggar’s conviction’.
Fracking, which has been effectively banned in the UK since 2019, is a sensitive issue for the ruling Conservative Party.
Some senior Conservative MPs support fracking as a way to boost the UK’s energy supply, but many Conservative MPs face strong opposition to implementing fracking in their constituencies. .
Liz Truss lifted a fracking ban during her premiership in September, arguing it would strengthen the country’s energy security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, after taking office, Sunak said he was committed to the ban as it was part of the manifesto for the 2019 Conservative general election.
“Beggar Faith”
Frances Egan, chief executive of fracking firm Quadrilla, said the move “has no reasonable scientific justification.”
He said Sunak, while running for Conservative leadership, said scientists had “concluded that fracking was safe and that seismic activity was not abnormal”.
Egan said: We need to put our own shale gas exploration and production back into the moratorium. ”
He said the shale gas industry “has the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs in the north of England, generate billions of dollars in private sector investment and provide much-needed tax revenue for local councils”. Stated.
He added that Sunak’s decision would prevent communities from “profiting from their own natural resources.”
“Great Shame”
Commerce Secretary Grant Shaps confirmed on October 27 that the ban on fracking will be reimposed, just one month after it was lifted.
“Predicting the magnitude and magnitude of shale gas mining-induced megaquakes remains a challenge with great uncertainty,” Shaps said in a written statement.
He said the government would “again presume against issuing any further fracking consents,” which is an “effective moratorium.”
However, Egan rejected the government’s view and pointed out the risks of relying on foreign energy supplies.
“By turning its back on its enormous onshore gas resources, the responsibility for the country’s continued gas supply has been shifted by politicians to the whims of dictators and the uncertainty of international supply lines and prices,” he said. said.
“The consequences of outsourcing energy supply are all too obvious. The current lack of political foresight and willpower to address this is deeply regrettable.”
PA Media contributed to this report.
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