Downing Street backs fracking regulations slammed for strangling the industry
Downing Street has defended the government’s tight fracking regulations after the UK’s shale gas tsar claimed they amounted to a “de facto ban” on the practice.
Former Labour MP Natascha Engel dramatically quit as fracking commissioner last weekend after just six months in the role, saying the restrictions around shale gas extraction made her role “impossible.”
Under rules put down by the government, any fracking must be halted for 18 hours if a micro-tremor of 0.5 magnitude is recorded.
Engel claimed this level “is much weaker than the rumble you might feel when walking above a Tube train”.
Speaking on Monday morning, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said it was “disappointing” that Engel had resigned, but stood by the regulations.
He said: “We continue to support the development of the shale industry in the UK because we believe it could have the potential to be a new domestic energy source and create thousands of well paid jobs and contribute to our security of supply.
“We have developed world-leading regulations on the advice of scientists and in consultation with industry and we are confident that they should strike the right balance. In terms of appointment, we will let you know in the usual way.
He added: “The regulations were developed on the advice of scientists and in consultation with industry and as I say we are confident they strike the right balance in ensuring the industry can develop while ensuring that any operations are carried out safely.”
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Engel claimed the government had the evidence the 0.5 limit could be raised without damaging the environment, but Business Secretary Greg Clark was blocking any changes.
She said: “We have the evidence, but the only thing that’s stopping a review is the Government. Yet Mr Clark is refusing to budge and time is running out. If the Government continues to listen to campaign groups rather than science, then he is effectively putting an end to fracking in the UK.”
She added: “Firms have invested hundreds of millions of pounds. They did all this on the basis that Government policy would be rational, that it would be scientific. But it’s not.”