Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 24TH - 30TH JUNE 2016 | 19 Operations & Assets " " "The very best you can say about shale gas in the UK is it's a bit akin to mov- ing from high tar cigarettes to medium tar, when your doc- tors are saying you need to give up entirely." Friends of the Earth's chief executive Craig Bennett "This controversial decision shows why we need tough environmental rules before fracking can take place. The government was wrong to U-turn." Lisa Nandy, shadow energy secretary "UKOOG welcomes the decision by North Yorkshire County Council, which helps to dispel many of the misleading claims that have been made about this application, as well as the process of hydraulic fractur- ing more generally. UK Onshore Oil and Gas chief executive Ken Cronin "We're very clear that fracking is a fantastic oppor- tunity. It's good for jobs, the economy and strengthens our energy security." Third Energy chief executive Rasik Valand "This approval is not a victory but a huge responsibility. We will have to deliver on our commitment, made to the committee and to the people of Ryedale, to un- dertake this operation safely and without impacting on the local environment." Energy minister Andrea Leadsom In the news: (23 May) UK fracking sector gets major boost as Third Energy's application approved Third Energy was given the go-ahead by North Yorkshire County Council to hydraulically fracture an existing well near the village of Kirby Misperton. This is the … rst time an application for fracking in the UK has been given council approval since a ban was li† ed in 2012. (25 May) Risks to water supply from fracking 'acceptable', says Yorkshire Water Yorkshire Water has said the risks to the water supply from shale gas pro- duction in North Yorkshire are "acceptable", as long as they are mitigated. The water company has given assurance that it will keep future applications under review to make sure there is no risk to the public water supply from such activities. (2 June) Ineos to begin shale gas surveys in the wake of landmark decision Chemicals giant Ineos is to begin conducting surveys of potential sites for shale gas production in three counties – Yorkshire, Cheshire and Lanca- shire – in the wake of a landmark planning decision on hydraulic fracturing. (2 June) Scottish parliament votes in favour of fracking ban The Scottish parliament has voted in favour of a ban on hydraulic fractur- ing in the country. The amendment to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Bill called on the parliament to recognise that "to meet Scotland's climate change goals and protect the environment, there must be an outright ban on fracking in Scotland". (6 June) Shale interest falling in oil and gas sector Interest in diversifying into shale gas is diminishing among oil and gas companies in the UK, according to an annual survey of the sector commis- sioned by the Bank of Scotland. It found that 31 per cent of the 141 business questioned were "extremely keen" to diversify into work involving onshore shale gas, down from 47 per cent the year before. 10 June Campaigners threaten legal action over fracking decision Campaigners have written to North Yorkshire County Council threatening to take legal action over its decision to approve Third Energy's plans for frack- ing near the village of Kirby Misperton.

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