Germany’s authorities are set to lift the ban on natural gas fracking, The Financial Time informs. Germany needs it to become less reliant on gas supplies from Russia and increase its competitiveness in the eyes of America.
The Cabinet is going to discuss the new rules for fracking and estimate possible harm to the environment before the summer recess. Germany currently has 2.3 trillion cubic meters of shale gas, while only 80 billion cbm are consumed annually.
Should Germany ensure maximum gas output, its need for gas will be 35% satisfied. Amid the conventional gas reserves depletion, this is particularly important.
German producers have recently been pushing for employing latest extraction techniques, but the government is still hesitating fearing adverse economic consequences. France, for instance, brushed fracking aside at once, even without thorough consideration.
As for Germany, it is going to approve this type of gas extraction unless chemicals are used and there is potential water contamination.
