The IEA (International Energy Association) has published its Special Report on Unconventional Gas, “Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas”.  

This report calls for the “highest practicable environmental and social standards” possible. It puts forward seven Golden Rules, which follow consultation with a range of stakeholders. These Rules suggest ways to address environmental and social concerns, so as to maintain or earn the industry a “social licence to operate”, paving the way for the widespread development of unconventional gas resources. The Rules call for “full, mandatory disclosure of fracturing fluid additives and volumes" as part of a rule to “measure, disclose and engage”. They also include regulating well design to minimise risks to groundwater and to limit methane emissions.

The report also calls for developers to “think big” and take advantage of economies of scale in the production of shale gas, and so reduce dependence on coal and oil. Maria van der Hoeven, the IEA’s executive director is quoted as warning “if the social and environmental aspects are not addressed properly, there is a very real possibility that public opposition to drilling…will halt the unconventional gas revolution in its tracks”.

Whilst these Golden Rules do not have regulatory status, they are likely to influence how the EU regards shale gas exploration and extraction and its consideration of the need for possible future regulation. Environmental groups have responded to the report very negatively. The believe that the use of the word “golden” in the report’s title gives overly positive connotations about gas, and they also expressed disappointment that the IEA was putting forward an energy strategy that included fossil fuels being used in greater amounts, rather than fighting the case for an energy strategy predicated on putting renewable energies to the fore.

Fatih Birol, the author of the IEA Report has responded that an energy strategy based on renewable energy is preferable to one involving regulated gas exploitation. Speaking in Brussels, Birol stated that unconventional gas production is “a good move if it replaces coal but it is definitely not the optimum path”. He also stated that an optimum path would be based on renewable energies and greater energy efficiency. 

Birol is further quoted as saying “if countries only rely on gas replacing coal for their environmental policies they would make a mistake,” but qualified that “it is up to the countries and the governments to make their own regulations and specifications”.

E. Shepherd