Tapping the underground treasure
There is a treasure under out feet which, if tapped, could make most of the country richer and less dependent on imported resources.
Making fracking for gas under Britain acceptable would require a many-sided strategy to address public doubts, environmental issues, and economic incentives. The main challenge lies in overcoming public concerns, environmental opposition, and political hesitation.
It must be emphasized that future fracking will not be like past fracking. The difference will lie in transparent regulation and environmental safeguards. A robust and transparent regulatory framework must be created to guarantee the highest environmental and safety standards.
Real-time monitoring should be done by independent bodies, with data made publicly accessible. Airtight protections against groundwater contamination and air pollution needs to be demonstrated.
There should be community engagement and benefit sharing with direct financial incentives to communities near drilling sites. This could be done through revenue sharing, community funds, and cheaper local energy. Local communities should be engaged early and consistently through consultations, town halls, and participatory decision-making. The industry and the government should publicize and deliver on job creation promises, particularly in economically challenged areas.
There should be evidence-based communication, with independent research on fracking’s risks and benefits, showing evidence from both the UK and abroad, and the programme could start with small-scale, well-monitored pilot projects to demonstrate low-impact extraction. Misinformation should be tackled directly, with honest assessment concerning trade-offs and risks.
It should be emphasized that fracking will help achieve energy security and climate goals because fracked gas is a transitional fuel that can help the UK move away from coal while renewables scale up. The UK presently imports liquefied petroleum gas from Norway, the US and several other countries. Domestic fracking would reduce reliance on imported gas and enhance national energy security.
A political and legal framework could be established with cross-party support to build a political consensus, or at least bipartisan support, to depoliticize the issue. Local planning permissions could be streamlined, while still allowing meaningful objections and oversight. Landowner and mineral rights laws could be clarified to reduce conflict and uncertainty.
Tax incentives could stimulate research and development in safer fracking technologies, and there could be risk mitigation for early investors in UK fracking.
The focus must be on trust, transparency, tangible local benefits, and environmental responsibility. Public concerns must be addressed and proven through action, not promises, that fracking can be done responsibly and shown to be in the national interest.
Madsen Pirie