LICENCE BIDS OPEN FOR FRACKING

For the first time in six years the government has opening bidding for new fracking licences.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28513036 

Half the UK is now open to exploration for shale gas.

New restrictions apply to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural, and companies granted a licence for test drilling will also need planning permission and environmental permits. The Environment Secretary will also have more power to intervene where their are disputes over drilling. 

The first gas from fracking is likely to be extracted early in 2015.

Comment: There have been strong local protests where test drilling has already been carried out. There are several sweeteners on offer to try to persuade local communities to accept the risks around fracking: tax breaks, payments of £100,000 per site plus a 1% share of revenue. The government deny that the new restrictions on fracking are designed to head off protest in Tory seats in the south of England.