“Germany fracking since 1955, nearly
60 years, with an 'exemplary record' on safety and the environment
Perhaps one of the more
eyebrow-raising presentations at London’s 2011 Shale Gas Environmental Summit
was that of Germany’s Klaus Sontgerath, head of department, Lower Saxony State
Authority for Mining, Energy and Geology.
In his presentation, he illustrated
that Germany – one of Europe’s greenest countries - produces more onshore
natural gas than any country in Europe apart from the Netherlands.
And “EMPG has been fracking the Damme
3 shale well since 2008 without incident,” he said, to many of the delegates’
surprise. His comment that there had been shale gas exploration in the country
by ExxonMobil since 2008 was to the surprise of many in attendance – including
shale experts and consultants alike.
Even more surprising was the
revelation that in fact, Germany has been fracking since 1955 in the
Schleswig-Holstein region and since 1976 in the country’s Lower Saxony region.”
I have had these examples put to me before.
I am sure they are correct.
But
we are also aware of what has happened in other countries where irresponsible fracking on the cheap has utterly
ruined land and water supplies, killed livestock and wildlife, and made peole very ill, and so on, are we not?
Clearly
there is a responsible approach, but also a thoroughly irresponsible approach to fracking with
a bandwagon effect where every reptile-on-the-make tries to get in on the money-grubbing act!
Cameron/Clegg announcing that virtually the whole of Great Britain is up for fracking, and
then offering billions in bribes - IS GOING TO ATTRACT COWBOYS AND SHYSTERS!
ISN’T IT?
Government backing ( BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION IN PUBLIC LIFE!)
Prime Minister David Cameron (reptile) also announced on Monday that local
councils that back fracking will be able to keep all the business rates
collected from shale gas extraction in the area, rather than the usual
50%.
There will also be a lump sum of £100,000 paid to councils when
a test well is fracked, plus direct cash payments could be made to
homeowners living near fracking sites, the PM said.
The government
estimates councils would keep up to £1.7 million extra a year from each
fracking site and hopes the project will help support more than 74,000
jobs and reduce bills for consumers.
There will also be a 1% levy on
revenues from shale gas extractions, Energy Minister Michael Fallon
added, and local councils would get up to £10 million for communities
per a wellhead’s lifetime.
The minister expects 20 to 40 wells to be drilled in exploration over the next two years across the country.
In December 2013, Planning Minister and MP for Grantham and Sleaford,
Nick Boles said the law would be changed to allow gas firm to put in
fracking applications without sending letters to people about drilling
beneath their homes.
Instead, companies would only be required to
publish notices in local newspapers, put up displays in local parishes,
and conduct a wider consultation.
A GREEN LIGHT TO COWBOYS AND SHYSTERS
NOW IT IS UP TO US - TO FIGHT BACK!!!
