Toxic chemicals in natural gas production

Fracking in the U.S.: Excess gas must be flared.
The Federal Environment Agency warns natural gas to using toxic chemicals. The so-called fracking chemicals could get into groundwater. The plans of the natural gas industry suffer a setback.

Natural Gas Boom
In the production of natural gas from unconventional sources like many companies enter this country - from shale and coal seams, it is to be retrieved. Especially in the U.S., this has been practiced for years. In addition to the existing "natural land" Lower of origin of around 90 percent of domestically produced gas, now come new locations in North Rhine-Westphalia, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and in the south of Baden-Württemberg and in the north of Hesse in question.


Nationwide, in the regions around 40 citizen initiatives against Fracking formed. The industry argues Fracking is was necessary to not be even more dependent on imports from. Main supplier of gas fired in Germany is Russia with 33 percent, followed by Norway with 27 percent.

Fracking in the U.S.: Excess gas must be flared.

The plans of the natural gas industry to ramp up in Germany, the gas production from coal seams and shale quickly have suffered a setback. The technology used for this purpose Fracking is expected to be introduced gradually and only under strict conditions. That was marked on Thursday at the presentation of a study by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) to Fracking Risks by Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU).

Sticking point is the concern around the drinking water. The study warns that the technology could lead to contamination of groundwater and thus endanger the water supply.

When Fracking chemicals are used, according to the UBA are some "dangerous, toxic and hazardous to health and the environment." They are pressed at high pressure with large amounts of water and sand in layers of rock to break this. The liquid produced cracks (fracs) in the rock. By these flows together and the gas can then be brought to the surface by means of bores.

Drinking water quality should not be compromised

The experts recommend as a consequence not a general ban on fracking, but they advise on it, use the method to a large area for the development of unconventional natural gas deposits. UBA proposes to examine the risks of fracking in some pilot projects - under strict monitoring by authorities and scientists.

Protection areas for drinking water and mineral springs, however, should be taboo. These account for about 14 percent of the national territory. Drinking water was "a high protection", said UBA President Jochen Flasbarth. Its quality should not be compromised. The UBA experts suggest also make changes in the approval process. Fracking for future projects will not be sufficient to permit easy mining law, but a formal environmental impact assessment will be required, which would be affected citizens a say. Altmaier promised that all doubts should be resolved before Fracking get used.

Call for ban

The gas producers reacted cautiously to the study. "The vote signals me confident that we can continue on the path of careful exploration," said Gernot Kalkhofen, chief for Central Europe at ExxonMobil. The Group is the market leader in Germany. He had stopped his plans for unconventional gas production after had risen unexpectedly violent protest at planned locations.

Caterpillar will however Altmaier of a harder line. Society for Nature Conservation (NABU) stands up for a promotion in favor of moratorium and demonstration projects to clarify the risks. BUND insists on a complete ban. "These are a high-risk technology with incalculable consequences," said Dirk Jansen of the NRW state association of the Berliner Zeitung. A natural gas "at any price" should not exist. Already, it is clear that the risks to groundwater are too great.