Unconventional gas: Europe’s sceptics who have imposed moratoria

Environmental groups in some European countries have successfully persuaded government to hold off the exploration and production of unconventional gas. The fourth in our six-part series on the energy source looks at their misgivings and whether they are likely to be convinced at a later stage of the positive aspects of home-grown unconventional gas production.

THE EUROPEAN Parliament is divided in its opinion on shale gas. The ITRE Committee (Industry, Research and Energy) and the Foreign Policy Committee, like the European Commission, are more in favour of exploration and development of unconventional gas in the EU-27 than the Environmental Committee.

A number of co...