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Page added on July 7, 2014
Shale gas could meet 10 percent of EU demand
Shale could eventually meet about 10 percent of the energy demand among European nations, European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said.
Oettinger said companies with reservations about hydrualic fracturing, the controversial drilling practice dubbed fracking, should keep all options on the table.
“I estimate that Europe has the potential to secure about a tenth of our needs this way in the long term,” he said Sunday.
Some countries in Eastern Europe are examining their shale natural gas potential. Other countries in Western Europe, however, have placed moratoriums on the controversial drilling practice. Shale efforts in Great Britain, meanwhile, are in their infancy.
European leaders are looking for ways to break the Russian grip on the region’s energy sector. Russia meets about 20 percent of Europe’s demand for gas. Oettinger in May said members of the European Union should develop stronger energy partnerships to avoid falling victim to “political and commercial blackmail.”
Oettinger is a German politician aligned with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The German government estimates its shale gas potential at between 24 trillion and 81 trillion cubic feet.
7 Comments on "Shale gas could meet 10 percent of EU demand"
Plantagenet on Mon, 7th Jul 2014 5:16 pm
Frack baby Frack. Good to see the EU moving towards a more rational energy policy. Total dependence on Russia wasn’t a smart position to be in.
pctech on Mon, 7th Jul 2014 7:09 pm
What the other 90%? Magic? And at what price? Eurozone on life support now.
pctech on Mon, 7th Jul 2014 7:09 pm
What the other 90%? Magic? And at what price? Eurozone on life support now.
rockman on Tue, 8th Jul 2014 12:01 am
Let’s consider Gunther’s background before we start taking pot shots at him, eh?
OK so he is a career politician who has never held a job in the private sector. But what of the man’s personal character…that should count for something, eh?
Eulogy controversy – On 11 April 2007, Oettinger held a controversial eulogy on one of his predecessors, Hans Filbinger, who was forced to resign in 1978 after allegations surfaced about his role as a navy lawyer and judge in the Second World War.
In his speech at the memorial service in Freiburg, Oettinger described Filbinger as “not a National-Socialist” but as “an opponent of the Nazi regime”. Referring to Filbinger’s role as a navy judge. Oettinger was subsequently accused by politicians and the media of playing down the significance of the Nazi dictatorship. German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with public admonishment, stating that she would have preferred it for “the critical questions” to not be raised. Oettinger was also criticized by opposition politicians and the Central Council of Jews in Germany; some of his critics even called for his dismissal.
OK…so he had a former Nazi friend in the woodpile…who doesn’t?
But he does know how to unit his fellow Europeans:Flag Controversy – “Oettinger suggested that heavily indebted countries should fly their flag at half mast outside EU buildings. As a result several MEP’s have written a letter of protest to EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, demanding for an apology or his resignation.”
Hmm…on second thought…take your potshots. LOL.
ulenspiegel on Tue, 8th Jul 2014 3:11 am
Oettinger is a lobbyist who has problems to develope and sell own ideas in a coherent way.
95% of his statements are annoying in best case, usually plainly wrong, the shale gas discussion belongs to the latter.
When somebody like P uses Oettinger’s statements to make his own case he must be desperate or stupid. 🙂
rockman on Tue, 8th Jul 2014 8:48 am
U – I suspect you’re more familiar with the man then anyone here. Perhaps he’s even worse the a lobbyist from the industry: a former politician turned lobbyist…the same motivation to spin but without a solid technical base.
nony on Wed, 9th Jul 2014 10:46 am
Fracking is evil. Good soft eurowimps too scared to fight or frack