Despite gas potential, fracking ban remains in Nova Scotia: Premier

HALIFAX — Despite an analysis that highlights the potential for billions of dollars worth of onshore gas in Nova Scotia, Premier Stephen McNeil said his government has no intention of lifting its ban on hydraulic fracturing.

The Nova Scotia Onshore Petroleum Atlas lists the economic potential at between $20 billion and $60 billion US.

The analysis, which began in 2013 and was recently released by the Energy Department, said that based on available geological data, the Windsor and Cumberland sub-basins are the areas that hold the most potential for hydrocarbons.

But McNeil said Thursday that it’s simply one report that will give Nova Scotians a chance to discuss fracking and onshore gas exploration. The Liberals passed legislation banning fracking in 2014, but have not proclaimed it.

“At this time there is no discussion to lift that ban,” he said. “The information that has come out I’m sure will lead to great public discussion.”

McNeil said barring any new information, the government remains concerned about the potential impacts fracking could have on potable water tables given the province’s geology.

Most of the potential, about $40 billion US, exists in shale gas which would require hydraulic fracturing to extract it.

McNeil said he wasn’t concerned that the province is passing up an economic opportunity as offshore reserves of natural gas dwindle. “No, you always weigh these things as they come forward as we did when the ban was put in,” he said. “As the ongoing discussion happens across our province, we like everyone else will be part of that and look at it, but I can tell you the issue of removing the ban has not got to my desk.”

The atlas estimates Nova Scotia is sitting on up to seven trillion cubic feet of hydrocarbons when conventional natural gas reserves are included.

In spite of the government’s reassurances, a coalition of environmental groups issued a statement warning of the potential interest for lifting of the ban in light of the atlas findings.

Stephen Thomas of the Ecology Action Centre called the atlas a waste of “time, money and expertise” given the existing ban on fracking. “We need to move beyond fossil fuels and invest time and money in renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and meeting our climate targets in a way that benefits Nova Scotians.”