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Should we expect a
"Gas Rush" on Merseyside and Lancashire?
ON 17 December 2015, the UK
Government's Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) issued licenses for 159 new areas
for shale prospects to be explored and tested. The announced stated that:-
"159 onshore blocks under the 14th Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round
are being formally offered to successful applicants. These blocks will be
incorporated into 93 onshore licences." This could now mean that in
2016 fracking exploration could start to take place across, North
Merseyside, in and around Southport and Formby. The move also lets companies
look closer at West Lancashire, like Banks and Burscough, along with areas
in and around Fleetwood, Preston, Leyland, and Chorley.
If the conventional drilling sites prove successful, Francis Egan, CEO of
Cuadrilla, said:- "The massive potential for the natural gas to be
extracted in these areas could help to drive the Northern Powerhouse by
securing the low carbon energy future of the UK as well as creating
investment and local jobs across the region."
This could mean a massive financial and job boost to some of the local
economies, that has up to now have been struggling to pull out of the damage
inflicted by the recession.
OGA Chief Executive Andy Samuel said:- "I'm pleased that the 14th
Onshore Round attracted strong interest and a high quality of proposed work
programmes. This round enables a significant amount of the UK's shale
prospects to be taken forward to be explored and tested. Upon acceptance of
these offers, applicants will be issued with licences and will be able to
begin planning their future strategies for exploration activities. These
will be subject to further local planning, safety, environmental and other
authorisations."
Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom after the announced said:- "We have set
out the vital role gas will play in the UK's transition to a low carbon
future. The licences offered today move us a step closer; driving forwards
this industry which will provide secure, home grown energy to hardworking
families and businesses for decades to come. Alongside conventional drilling
sites, we need to get shale gas moving. As the Task Force for Shale Gas
report found earlier this week, with the right standards in place fracking
can take place safely. Now is the time to press ahead and get exploration
underway so that we can determine how much shale gas there is and how much
we can use."
But others like Frack Off are worried about the environmental and safety
issues of the process. So are you for Shale Gas exploration or not? Please
email us to:-
News24@SouthportReporter.Com. |
