ZCZC
BFF-43
BRITAIN-ENERGY-NATURAL-GAS-ENVIRONMENT-COURT-POLITICS
Fracking to begin in Britain after court ruling
LONDON, Oct 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Energy company Cuadrilla will begin
fracking Britain’s first horizontal shale-gas well on Saturday after the High
Court in London dismissed a last-minute request for an injunction by
environmentalists.
“We are delighted to be starting our hydraulic fracturing operations as
planned,” Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla, said in a statement.
The project in Lancashire, northwest England, has attracted much
controversy and was opposed by local authorities, residents and
environmentalists, who launched legal action to block operations.
But judge Michael Supperstone ruled that he did “not consider that any of
the grounds of challenge raise a serious issue to be tried.”
He also refused a request by the local Lancashire County Council for a
judicial review of emergency planning procedures regarding the site, nestled
in the Lancashire countryside.
The company has completed two horizontal shale-gas wells — 2,300 metres
and 2,100 metres below the surface, at the site.
It will test the flow of natural gas within the wells, with initial
results expected in the new year.
“If commercially recoverable this will displace costly imported gas, with
lower emissions, significant economic benefit and better security of energy
supply for the UK,” said Egan.
Fracking uses hydraulic pressure to break up underground rock, allowing
the flow of previously trapped gas.
Locals and environmentalists argue that fracking damages tourism,
contaminates water supplies, hurts wildlife, causes earthquakes and
contributes to global climate change.
Cuadrilla’s first attempt at fracking seven years ago was ended after it
triggered minor earthquakes, putting their plans on hold while more stringent
measures were put in place.
BSS/AFP/RY/20:01 hrs