German gas industry fears strict fracking rules

Germany’s Ministry of Environment is preparing a framework that will put in place strict environmental audits that include a ban on drilling in water conservation areas. 

According to a Reuters report, the law will be discussed by the end of March and it is reportedly just short of a complete ban on fracking for gas.

Gernot Kalkoffen, WEG oil and gas association’s president said that the rules need to form a reliable framework guaranteeing gas production stressing that it is a question of covering Germany’s energy demand in the future.

Germany imports 37% of its total gas supply from Russia while the country’s own gas reserves covered 12% of total gas supply.

The environmental concerns are strong in Germany and WEG said that new rules, which would allow fracking only bellow 3000 meters, would exclude some conventional gas deposits.

Moreover, new rules would damage the competitiveness of German technology as Martin Bachman, head of Wintershall’s exploration and production, said. He added that the credibility of German technology would be damaged in the world as no German company could be able to use it on home soil.

 

LNG World News Staff; Image: Wintershall