CNN —
The world of UK politics was thrown into further turmoil on Wednesday night after a debate over fracking led to alleged physical clashes between aides to Prime Minister Liz Truss and MPs from her own Conservative Party.
Last month, the Truss government formally lifted a ban on fracking for shale gas that had been in place for England since 2019, arguing that strengthening the country’s energy supply was an “absolute priority”. The main opposition Labor Party tabled a motion to restore the ban, but some conservative MPs reported being bullied, even manipulated, into voting along with Truss.
But what exactly is fracking and why is it so controversial? Here’s what you need to know.
What is fracking?
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves drilling into the ground and injecting water and chemicals under high pressure to break up rocks and release the gas trapped inside.
Why does the government want to do it?
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European gas prices have soared to record highs and Britain has subsidized household and business bills at an estimated cost of more than 100 billion pounds ($110.4 billion).
Britain is heavily dependent on natural gas, which will take years to taper off. Gas heats about 80% of the country’s homes and on some days can be used to generate almost 50% of the country’s electricity.
The government is seeking to increase domestic gas production, which has been in decline, to reduce its dependence on imports. Industry body Offshore Energies UK says that without new investment, Britain will have to import around 80% of its gas by 2030, up from around 60% now.
How much gas can be produced?
Scientists say this is not yet clear. Because only a few test wells have been drilled, there are no estimates of proven reserves to predict with confidence how much shale gas would be technically and economically viable to extract through fracking.
The government said the only way to assess this was to allow drilling to begin.
“Removing the pause … will enable drilling to collect this additional data, build an understanding of the UK’s shale gas resources and how we can safely extract shale gas in the UK,” a statement from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), said last month.
Why is it controversial?
The injection of fluids under high pressure can cause tremors in the Earth, while people in the affected communities are also concerned about the impact on the landscape, tourism and agriculture.
Shale gas is also a fossil fuel, and activists say extracting more fossil fuels goes against the country’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. It also uses a lot of water, and environmental groups have raised concerns about possible groundwater contamination.
BEIS public opinion tracking, which used a random sample, in autumn 2021 showed that opposition to fracking far outweighed support, with just 4% in favor of the practice and 45% opposed.
Which companies are participating?
More than 100 exploration and drilling licenses have been granted to several companies, including Cuadrilla, Third Energy, IGas, Aurora Energy Resources and Ineos.
Cuadrilla, 96% owned by Australia’s AJ Lucas, was the only one of these firms to get consent to start fracking.
In 2019, the company discovered natural gas reserves at its site in north-west England, but earthquake regulations meant its operations had to remain shut down, meaning neither of its two wells could be fully tested for flow .
Which other countries have done it?
Onshore gas fracking is common in the United States, where it has helped lower the price of gas, but the practice remains banned in many European countries, such as Germany and France, while few European countries are believed to have suitable shale gas geology for the technology.
Will it reduce energy bills?
Not in the short term, and questions remain about how much gas can actually be extracted. Even if large quantities are extracted, the price of this gas will still depend on world prices.
Former UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng said in March, when he was business and energy minister, that gas fracking would not lead to lower UK gas prices. “With the best will in the world, private companies will not sell the shale gas they produce to UK consumers below the market price,” he tweeted.
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