Moratorium remains on hydraulic fracturing in England

The moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in England will remain in place, the new prime minister said today.

FIRST BAN

The Government first introduced the ban in November 2019 following reported earthquakes at Cuadrilla Resources’s shale gas extraction site in Preston, Lancashire.

In April 2022 the Government ordered a scientific review on whether the extraction of shale gas could be conducted safely.

LIFTING

In September, the then new prime minster Liz Truss said she would lift the ban only where there was local consent.

The move aimed to increase home-grown sources of energy, reduce foreign imports and explore possible options to secure domestic energy, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and “weaponisation of energy”.

ENVIRONMENT

During Prime Minister’s Questions today, Rishi Sunak said he would uphold the pledges made in the Conservative party’s 2019 manifesto which included a ban on hydraulic fracturing.

“I’ve already said I would stand by the manifesto on that.

“But what I would say is that I’m proud that this Government has passed the landmark environment tax, putting more protection for the natural environment than we’ve ever had with a clear plan to deliver.

“And I can give the honourable lady [Caroline Lucas MP, Green Party] my commitment that we will deliver on all those ambitions, we will deliver on what we said at COP because we care deeply about passing our children an environment in better state than we found it ourselves.”