Spending watchdog investigates costs of fracking
The potential cost to the public of decommissioning fracking sites is to be investigated by the government’s spending watchdog.
Angus proposes using abandonment cash to restart gas field production
Investors and anti-drilling campaigners have criticised proposals by Angus Energy to use money intended for decommissioning to connect a shut-in gas field to the grid.
Guest post: Liability lottery of onshore decommissioning
Who pays for clean-ups and decommissioning if an onshore operator goes bust? It’s a question that is concerning MPs and landowners. In this guest post, researcher and anti-fracking campaigner, Ben Dean, looks at the rules for decommissioning and argues for tougher controls.
Regulators accused of “extraordinary hands-off” approach to South Downs oil well
An oil exploration well in one of the most sensitive parts of the country has lacked scrutiny because of legal loopholes.
No guarantor for Third Energy’s fracking and drilling plans
The government has confirmed that no guarantor is required to underwrite Third Energy’s commitments to frack one well a year in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, until 2022.
“Fracking will struggle if it doesn’t solve landowner liability for clean-up”
The shale gas industry was warned today it must tackle the problem of who pays for decommissioning if the operator goes out of business.
Landowners could face fracking clean-up costs, MPs warn
Owners of fracking sites may be liable for the clean-up if project backers go out of business, MPs said in a report published today.
