DRAFT UK shale gas ‘can create thousands of jobs’

London – The development of shale gas resources in the UK could lead to the creation of many thousands of jobs, improve energy security and reduce emissions, an industry-funded body has argued.

For that to happen, the Shale Gas Task Force wants exploratory wells be drilled, hydraulically fractured and tested to provide more accurate data on the amount of gas that is economically recoverable.

The Task Force on Shale Gas was established in September 2014 to provide a transparent, platform for public scrutiny, discussion and information about shale gas exploration and production in the UK.

Chairman of the task force, Lord Smith, added that shale could help cut emissions by replacing more polluting coal: “We need to be even clearer... about shale gas providing a bridge to a low carbon future.”