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German environment minister: 'we want to limit fracking' German environment minister: 'we want to limit fracking'
(1 day later)
Germany's environment minister said on Monday he did not want to make it easy for companies to "frack" for shale gas and could not see the practice happening in his country in the "forseeable future".Germany's environment minister said on Monday he did not want to make it easy for companies to "frack" for shale gas and could not see the practice happening in his country in the "forseeable future".
Pending rules for the drilling techniques would likely be tightened, said Peter Altmaier, a conservative politician in chancellor Angela Merkel's government.Pending rules for the drilling techniques would likely be tightened, said Peter Altmaier, a conservative politician in chancellor Angela Merkel's government.
"The message is we want to limit fracking, we don't want to facilitate it," he told Deutschlandfunk radio. "And anyway I don't see in the foreseeable future that fracking will be employed anywhere within Germany.""The message is we want to limit fracking, we don't want to facilitate it," he told Deutschlandfunk radio. "And anyway I don't see in the foreseeable future that fracking will be employed anywhere within Germany."
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping vast quantities of water and chemicals at high pressure through drill holes, which together with vertical drilling helps prop open shale rocks to release trapped gas. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping vast quantities of water and chemicals at high pressure through vertically or horizontally drilled holes to release gas trapped in shale formations.
Altmaier said he would recommend that interested parties refrain from applying for exploration licences. So far, only a few small initiatives are under way in the absence of clear-cut rules.Altmaier said he would recommend that interested parties refrain from applying for exploration licences. So far, only a few small initiatives are under way in the absence of clear-cut rules.
The upper house of parliament, where Merkel's governing coalition no longer has a majority, earlier this month passed a resolution urging the cabinet to tighten rules for fracking, which critics say may increase seismic risks and even pollute drinking water.The upper house of parliament, where Merkel's governing coalition no longer has a majority, earlier this month passed a resolution urging the cabinet to tighten rules for fracking, which critics say may increase seismic risks and even pollute drinking water.
Companies such as ExxonMobil and BASF's oil-and-gas arm Wintershall are pushing to explore possibilities, but due to the country's federal structure, individual states can decide whether or not to issue permits.Companies such as ExxonMobil and BASF's oil-and-gas arm Wintershall are pushing to explore possibilities, but due to the country's federal structure, individual states can decide whether or not to issue permits.
In the US, the new drilling technique has created a shale gas boom in recent years, freeing the country of the need to import, and changing gas flows and prices in the world market.In the US, the new drilling technique has created a shale gas boom in recent years, freeing the country of the need to import, and changing gas flows and prices in the world market.
Germany produces only 14% of the gas it consumes and imports 40% from Russia.Germany produces only 14% of the gas it consumes and imports 40% from Russia.
Industrial gas consumers say they could benefit from fracking, as they need a secure supply at reasonable prices.Industrial gas consumers say they could benefit from fracking, as they need a secure supply at reasonable prices.
But opposition to unknown technologies is growing, and with a national election scheduled for 22 September, opposition parties and government alike are seeking to avoid controversy. Rules for initiatives to try to bury captured carbon from coal-fired power stations have already been tightened so much that the technology is practically dead in Germany.But opposition to unknown technologies is growing, and with a national election scheduled for 22 September, opposition parties and government alike are seeking to avoid controversy. Rules for initiatives to try to bury captured carbon from coal-fired power stations have already been tightened so much that the technology is practically dead in Germany.
• This article was amended on 12 February 2013 to clarify that fracking can be done with vertical or horizontal drilling.