RT.com
22 Sep 2022, 18:02 GMT+10
The controversial process was suspended in 2019 due to environmental concerns
Britain lifted a moratorium on fracking for shale gas on Thursday, citing the country's energy needs.
Announcing the end of the ban, Business and Energy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said that "strengthening our energy security is an absolute priority" and that the UK has to "realize any potential sources of domestic gas."
Fracking, or extracting shale gas from rocks by breaking them up, was banned in 2019 due to concerns that it could trigger earthquakes. More than 120 tremors were recorded that year at a fracking site in Lancashire, although most were too weak to be felt. The largest tremor caused by fracking, magnitude 2.3, occurred in 2011 in Blackpool, where residents reported being woken up in the night.
Prime Minister Liz Truss said earlier this month that fracking would be allowed in places where it is supported by the local communities.
The lifting of the ban comes after the British Geological Survey (BGS) released a report saying that since little fracking has taken place in the UK, it "remains challenging" to estimate the seismic impact.
Energy prices have soared in the UK and the rest of Europe amid the severe reduction in the flow of energy from Russia, and countries scrambling to secure alternative supplies.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of The UK News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to The UK News.
More InformationPONTEDERA, Italy: Italy's Piaggio, the maker of the iconic Vespa scooter, reported record-high core profit margins for 2024 despite...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks fell sharply at the open and stayed in the red for much of the day Friday, however as the day wore...
NEW YORK, New York - The U.S. dollar continued to come under pressure Friday with President Donald Trump's flip flops on trade tariffs,...
SEATTLE, Washington: Nordstrom delivered stronger-than-expected holiday-quarter sales and announced a leadership shakeup, with Chief...
MILAN, Italy: Prada CEO Andrea Guerra suggested this week that the Italian luxury brand is keeping its options open regarding potential...
OSLO/COPENHAGEN: Tesla is experiencing a sharp drop in sales across Scandinavia and France as shifting consumer sentiment and an aging...
(Photo credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images) Third-place Nottingham Forest will host fourth-place Manchester City on Saturday in a match...
VICTORIA, 7th March, 2025 (WAM) -- TiKay has been unveiled as the Official Mascot of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025....
(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) Second-half goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez lifted Inter Miami to a 2-0 win over...
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 7 (ANI): Punjab FC aided by goals from Luka Majcen and Singamayum Shami who created history by...
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 7 (ANI): Hyderabad FC (HFC) interim head coach Shameel Chembakath urged his side to learn from...
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 7 (ANI): Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis expressed his delight with his side's convincing...