News from Berlin – Gas fracking is to be banned in Germany for the foreseeable future, specifically the fracking of gas in the higher lying rock layers. The rock is broken open by vertical drilling compared to more traditional fracking, where the rock is drilled through until the gas pores are reached. The German Minister of Economics, Sigmar Garbriel, and Environmental Minister Barbara Hendricks (both from the SPD political party) have come to an agreement on the fracking ban as previously there had been no clear regulations on the matter.

In a report the SPD writes that ‘Intended fracking for gas gains from coal and shale rocks above 300 meters is banned in accordance to the Water Resources Act’. The ban will last until 2021 after which it will be revised.

Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. The unconventional form of fracking usually occurs above 3000 meters which is now being banned due to the chemicals that are used in the process which are thought to have detrimental environmental consequences.

News from Berlin – Berlin Global