British Chemical and energy giant Ineos has written to the UK government with an offer to develop a test site to prove the safety of fracking in the UK.
It comes after the UK government said it’s “remaining open-minded” about fracking for shale gas in the North Sea and commissioned a review of the latest scientific evidence on shale gas extraction amid the energy shortage exacerbated by the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, 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.
(PA Graphics)
The UK government imposed a moratorium on shale gas mining in England in 2019 after minor earthquakes were attributed to fracking in Lancashire—the only active site in the UK—operated by energy firm Cuadrilla.