Fracking plan dropped as ban remains ‘for the time being’

BUSINESS MINISTER Kwasi Kwarteng has said fracking “for the time being is over”, as an energy firm dropped plans for a controversial fracking operation in North Yorkshire.

In November, the Government called a halt to fracking following research from the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) which raised concerns over the ability to predict frackinglinked earthquakes.

In August, fracking by Cuadrilla led to an earthquake in Lancashire measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale.

Tory MP Alexander Stafford asked if the minister would agree with his constituents in his

Rother Valley seat in South Yorkshire that “the best way to tackle climate change is to make the moratorium on fracking permanent”.

Responding for the Government, Mr Kwarteng said: “Yes, absolutely,” adding: “What I would like to say about fracking is the moratorium is what it says. We’re stopping it.

“The only way it can be resumed is by compelling evidence which so far is not forthcoming. So the moratorium stays and fracking, for the time being, is over.”

Hydraulic fracturing – fracking – is a process in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture shale rock and release gas or oil trapped within it.

Almost four years after North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee granted plans for Fracking in Ryedale, the council committee heard that the applicant, Third Energy, wanted to focus on greener uses for its existing conventional gas operations.

The firm’s original plan had seen Kirby Misperton become a frontline in the national battle over fracking, with more than 80 protesters arrested as they encased their arms in concrete and leapt on lorries to hamper the firm’s wish to be the first to frack in the UK for years.