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The exploitation of shale gas in Europe: very divided opinions

(Archives) The exploitation of shale gas arouses very divergent points of view in Europe. Some countries have banned. Others have started mining. Between the two, some are experimenting and carrying out preliminary studies...

The stated principle is indeed the freedom of choice. “Each Member State is free to determine its energy sources,” confirmed a spokesperson for the European Commission. " They can also determine according to which criteria, they can deliver a license or not of exploitation »

Who prohibits, who authorizes, who hesitates?

those who banned

Today, only a few states have banned hydraulic fracturing, as a study by the Thomas More Institute shows. In addition to France, there is Bulgaria, certain German regions (Land of North Rhine-Westphalia), Spain (Cantabria) and Switzerland (cantons of Vaud and Fribourg). As for the Netherlands, they have imposed a moratorium.

Those who started to exploit

In the United Kingdom, the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing was lifted in December 2012. And exploratory drilling, by hydraulic fracturing, is underway. A few other countries – mainly in Eastern Europe – have not only authorized hydraulic exploitation but have begun to issue permits. This is for example the case in Poland. Exploitation “on an experimental basis” is underway, with marketing planned for 2015. In Hungary, exploratory drilling by hydraulic fracturing is underway. In Lithuania, an exploration permit is issued.

Those who hesitate

In Germany, a bill banning hydraulic fracturing at the federal level was rejected by parliament in December 2012. Preliminary studies are underway. The situation then varies according to the Länder. 13 operating permits have been issued.

In Denmark, exploration drilling is planned for 2013 by Total, in Nordjylland and Nordsjælland, subject to authorization. Hydraulic fracturing tests are planned for 2014. The 70 permits already granted and the other 25 requested.

In Spain, preliminary studies and exploratory drilling (without hydraulic fracturing) are underway in the regions of Aragon and the Basque Country. But they only concern seismic studies and exploratory drilling.

To find out more: the Thomas More Institute study.

Three contradictory Commission studies

The exploitation of shale gas receives a mixed opinion from European experts. The European Commission had published, a year ago, three studies on three aspects: environmental, energy, climate.

On the environmental side, the balance sheet is rather negative. The extraction of shale gas leads to typically a larger environmental footprint, larger than conventional gas operation ". There are "risks of soil and groundwater contamination, depletion of water resources, air and noise pollution, land occupation, disruption of biodiversity and traffic-related impacts ".

energy side. The study is positive. Based on the example of the United States, the exploitation makes it possible to have “greater reserves at the world level”, and results in a fall in the price of gas.

On the climate balance side, the third study shows that the exploitation of shale gas results in higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional natural gas produced within a European country. But if this production is "well managed", there are fewer greenhouse gases than for imported gas, whether by pipeline or LNG tanker, due to the impact on emissions from transporting gas to long distance.

The cautious European Parliament

The start of oil shale and shale gas exploration in some EU countries should be supported by "strong regulatory regimes", said the European Parliament, which adopted two resolutions last November. Member states should also be "cautious" about operating permits pending the analysis that will determine whether an EU regulation is appropriate.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde for West France

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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