Sources are speculating that Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be poised to make a U-turn on fracking.
He has formerly been a supporter of the UK’s controversial shale gas industry, however mounting opposition to fracking from the public and within his own party could see him pursue a change in policy.
In the run up to the December election, environmental issues amidst the climate crisis will no doubt play an important role in many parties election manifestos.
Johnson has recently said that the Government are set to make an announcement on the UK's fracking industry. This comes following a review triggered by a series of earthquakes at a shale gas fracking site in Lancashire. The Cuadrilla site in question was brought to an immediate halt after tremors breached earthquake limits established by the Government.
He commented that there are: "very considerable anxieties that are legitimately being raised about the earthquakes that have followed various fracking attempts in the UK".
It is therefore expected in the coming days that Johnson could rule out any new fracking projects in the UK. If this does happen it will be welcome news for many after years of public protest, with environmental groups hoping that an effective ban on new projects could help kill off the industry.
The anticipated ban comes shortly after a Whitehall spending watchdog report stated that the Government's plans to establish UK wide fracking was years behind schedule and had cost the taxpayer £32 million so far, without any energy being produced in return.
Chief scientist at Greenpeace UK, Doug Parr, said: "It’s not easy to admit when you're wrong, but fracking has been a failure and Government should accept it."
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) commented: "The Government has always said shale gas exploration can only proceed as long as it is safe and environmentally responsible."
Only the coming weeks will tell whether policy makers believe that there remains a future for the shale gas industry in the UK.
