France - Fracking Industry regroups to counter current blocade.

In spite of President Hollande essentially maintaining his promise to resist pressures to proceed with fracking en France, leading proponents within the industry still hope to apply leverage to the situation. To amplify their message they have formed CHNC - le Centre Hydrocarbures Non Conventionnels and will formally announce it's creation on the 10th February. Former ExxonMobil mining engineer Jean-Louis Schilansky, until December 2014 the President of the French Union of Petroleum Industries ( UFIP ) will lead the new organisation.  Founding members of CHNC include Total, GDF Suez, Vallourec, Solvay, Air Liquide, Vinci, Arkema, Technip, Bureau Veritas and Suez Envrironment.

We wish to thank Daniele Favari for links to this news item. Ed.

France - Oil and Gas 'industrialists' unite to fight shale gas blocade.

Getting stroppy now. Various O&G CEOs and others have united in order to lobby government in an effort to break the current government's stance on fracking in France. They suggest that the current low price of oil will not last. Of course it won't and even when prices begin to climb once more there is still no sound reason for even tentative exploration of shale gas at a time when the extraction of yet one more fossil fuel is the very last thing that we need.

Read the article ( in French ) here: http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2015/01/29/gaz-de-shciste-les-industriels-s-unissent-pour-combattre-le-blocage-francais_4566459_3234.html

NB. Google Translate will provide you with a reasonable approximation in English. Ed.

Scottish Parliament blocks fracking pending the May elections and further tests.

Canny people the Scots.

The Scottish government has announced a block on planned fracking operations, pending further inquiries. Ministers will carry out new work on the environmental and health implications of the controversial gas drilling technique. Full control over fracking is due to be devolved to Scotland after May's general election. In the meantime, consent for unconventional oil and gas developments will be refused on planning grounds.

UK - Lancashire County Council defer decision on Cuadrilla for eight weeks.

Tractors blockade County Hall in Preston, Lancs.

Read more here: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/28/lancashire-council-defers-cuadrilla-fracking-decision

Not something one would want to invest in heavily at this point what with all the delays and adverse publicity spreading daily eh? Ed.

UK - Ministerial aide to Vince Cable ( remember him?) quits over fracking.

Tessa Munt, Ministerial Aide to Coalition bloke Vince Cable yesterday resigned over her party's support for government fracking policy.

Read the BBC report here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-31012672

UK Public to fund fracking excess + Protection of national Parks???

First of all, it is clear that a majority of the British public do not want fracking. Second, it is they who are going to pay for it ( in more ways than merely financial ).

Perspective here on the current situation...........................

http://action.sumofus.org/a/fracking-taxpayers/

And why is everyone so calm about 'our' National Parks? The so called protection currently within the remit of one Eric Pickles is probably worthless. No doubt our Eric will deny a couple more token applications and then the floodgates will be open. Ever been to the heart of the Peak District national Park which is laced with massive limestone quarries for instance? Ed.

UK - Osborne's 'fracking push' letter to ministers leaked.

George Osborne has written to government ministers urging them to 'speed interventions' on behalf of fracking companies. Panicking George?

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/26/george-osborne-ministers-fast-track-fracking?CMP=share_btn_link

David Cameron has claimed that many jobs will be created. Does he mean for him and his compatriots on the boards of oil and gas concerns? We wonder. Ed.