Shale Gas: potential as new source of energy but environmental guarantees necessary

The move towards extraction of shale gas and shale oil has radically changed the global energy market. Although EU countries have sovereign rights regarding the choice of their energy mix, any exploration of shale gas on EU soil has to abide by the highest environmental standards, according to a Resolution drafted by Bogusław Sonik MEP. The Resolution was approved today with an overwhelming majority in the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the European Parliament. The 'shale gas revolution' in Europe has to go in pair with maximum transparency, and the provision of information to the public, the Resolution underlines.

"The main message of the Report is that having a precautionary environmental approach, shale gas and shale oil are given an opportunity to prove their commercial profitability. Europe cannot turn its back on resources that can play a key role in diminishing the dependence on external energy supply and in reducing CO2 emissions", said Bogusław Sonik MEP after the vote.

The main points of the Resolution are:

• reviewing the present Regulations at EU and national level as well as their improved implementation and execution;
• creating a European catalogue of best available practices and techniques and the need to ensure that highest technological standards are applied, and guaranteeing constant monitoring;
• minimising the risk factor and placing the responsibility for any damages on the industry – the 'polluter pays' principle;
• full transparency of operations – the obligation to declare the content and concentration of chemicals in hydraulic fracking fluids and minimising the use of toxic substances;
• reducing the demand for water in the fracking process, measuring water quality before and after drilling operations.

The Resolution was adopted with 63 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention. The next step is the vote in plenary most probably during the October session in Strasbourg.