Shale gas ‘not an option’, MPs told

The shale gas industry has barely begun in the UK and gas company Cuadrilla is currently waiting to hear whether it can resume the first exploration of shale resources in Lancashire, which was suspended following two minor earthquakes. But concerns have been raised over the impact of exploiting unconventional gas resources on greenhouse gas emissions.

There are also fears over potentially damaging development, water pollution and tremors caused by the controversial method of extracting gas by hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”.

Francis Egan, chief executive of Cuadrilla, told the Energy and Climate Change Committee that, if properly managed, shale gas had 10 per cent lower emissions than imported gas. But Professor Kevin Anderson, of the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester, warned that if the UK was to take the steps needed to meet global commitments shale gas was not an option because the UK would exceed its allowed emissions.