An economic boost or an environmental disaster?

Editorial Department • Published 2 Feb 2012 13:00 0 Comments

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In these economic times, positive news stories are welcome, especially when they relate to the potential creation of jobs. And so the claims of employment opportunities for Fermanagh and the Border area running into hundreds of jobs as well as energy security for the foreseeable future, would indeed be welcome news.

However the controversy surrounding Tamboran Resources' ambitious plans to drill for shale gas in Fermanagh and Leitrim through a process known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking has detracted from their announcement in which they said they were confident of tapping into the estimated 2.2 trillion cubic feet of gas under Fermanagh's landscape which could support 600 jobs directly with a further 2,400 jobs estimated in the various servicing industries by 2025.

The company also pledged to undertake a comprehensive environment impact assessment which would study the environment, as well as soils, groundwater, air quality and noise and that their findings would be made public in early 2013. They have also pledged to invest £6bn in their project to drill for shale gas.

Ever since the firm first made its plans known that they were carrying out preliminary investigations to establish the quantities of shale gas which lie in what is known as the Lough Allen Basin under west and south Fermanagh and Leitrim, they have been dogged with controversy.

Campaign groups have labelled the plans as being disastrous for the environment, seriously affecting the county's tourism and agriculture industries as well as disturbing natural habitats. Much of their fear of the process has been based on the film, "Gaslands" which claims to expose the technique of fracking in a number of States across America and which resulted in some householders able to set their tap water on fire because of the high content of chemicals in the groundwater. There are also claims of minor earth tremors set off in areas where fracking has taken place including Lancashire in England.

The drilling company is obviously confident of making the project work by coming out with such positive claims but first they will have to satisfy the Planning Service when their planning application is made.

It will be at this juncture that both the developers and protest groups will have their say on the matter and which will determine the outcome whether we will have a gas industry in Fermanagh that could be the envy of many other regions.

Environment Minister, Alex Attwood, will be under great pressure to make the right decision, and to get the right balance between a potential major economic boost and possible environmental damage regarding fracking. He reassured people in Fermanagh that no decisions have been made about permitting fracking and no planning applications had been received but indicated a rigorous process of compliance with tough environmental requirements.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 02 Feb 12

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