Press release

Gas 'fracking' a potential environmental nightmare for Northern Ireland

29 September 2011

At a public meeting in Fermanagh last night, Friends of the Earth warned of the dangers of the gas extraction technique known as 'fracking' [1] and has given its support to communities who want to resist this new approach to gas extraction.

The lobby group has three main concerns:

1. The structural inability of government to regulate a highly controversial gas extraction industry given the absence of an independent Environmental Protection Agency [2] in Northern Ireland;

2. The adverse economic impact on tourism and farming and the adverse social impact on communities and public safety; and

3. There is no need for damaging gas extraction given the proven alternatives for clean renewable energy resources.

Friends of the Earth Director, James Orr, said:

"We need to wake up and decide what type of energy future we want for Northern Ireland. The stark choice is between safe and clean renewable energy or the legacy of toxic pollution of water and farmland from gas fracking. There is too much evidence from other countries of the potential environmental nightmare that gas fracking can cause. [3]"

"As well using our energy more carefully our power should come from the wind, sun, biogas, and the tides - this will cut emissions and boost the economy by creating new businesses and jobs.

He added :

"How on earth are we going to regulate gas fracking when we can't even regulate someone dumping illegally or causing water pollution? The price to pay for a bad record of environmental regulation is that we are simply not capable, without an Environmental Protection Agency, of regulating this type of activity." 

Notes to editors

1. Gas 'fracking' is shorthand for the term hydraulic fracturing. It involves drilling down vertically into shale rock with a borehole lined with concrete and metal then horizontally forcing into shale rock at high pressure large quantities of water, sand and chemicals to release the gas.

2. Northern Ireland is currently the only part of Britain or Ireland without an independent regulator and enforcer of environmental legislation. A recent consultation exercise carried out by the DOE revealed 83% of respondents supported an Environmental Protection Agency.

3. Many countries such as France have placed a moratorium on gas fracking. In England Cuadrilla's shale gas exploration near Blackpool had to be halted earlier in the year amid concerns they were causing earth tremors. 

4. There is growing opposition to gas fracking in Northern Ireland; and  No Fracking Here, Facebook Group:

5. A number of petroleum licenses were issued in Northern Ireland in 2011, one of which was for shale gas extraction in County Fermanagh issued to Tamboran Resources Ltd. It is believed that exploration drilling cannot be carried out without additional consents from several regulatory authorities including DETI, HSENI, Planning Service and NIEA.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust