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At present, Germany only plans to allow fracking
below a depth of 3,000 metes (yards), to ensure that there is no
danger to ground water supplies. Der Spiegel had reported that
this depth boundary would be scrapped.
While denying the report, a spokeswoman for the Environment
Ministry did not rule out that fracking might one day be allowed
in Germany as technology progresses.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping water and
chemicals at high pressure through drill holes to prise open
rocks containing gas. Many Germans oppose it because they fear
possible contamination of drinking water.
The technique has been used in Germany for deep-lying, or
"tight" gas, but there has been an effective moratorium on new
permits for the last two years, pending new rules.
German industry, worried that its competitiveness is being
damaged by rising energy costs at home combined with lower
prices in the United States due to the expansion of fracking
there, has become ever keener to exploit shale.
Germany's Federal Institute for Geosciences (BGR) two years ago
put the country's shale gas potential between 0.7 trillion and
2.3 trillion cubic metes.
(Reporting by Alexander Ratz; Writing by Alexandra Hudson;
Editing by Stephen Brown and Tom Heneghan)
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