August 2011

THE DEPARTMENT of Energy has said it has not yet given a licence for the controversial method of onshore exploration drilling for natural gas involving hydraulic fracturing known as “fracking”.

If it were to be approved, applications would be subject to environmental impact assessment, including “appropriate public consultation”, the department said.

It was responding to a call on Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte by environmental group An Taisce to hold a public consultation on the practice.

This once self-sufficient community suffered from the excesses of oil firms and corrupt officials. Now, the villagers are blamed for everything and the arms dealers are having a field day

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL has described as shocking the scientific findings of a United Nations Environment Programme report which found extensive oil pollution in Ogoniland in the Niger Delta.

The human rights group has called on Royal Dutch Shell, as lead oil company in the area, to focus on the “truth, rather than protecting its corporate image” if the problem is to be addressed.

The UN study published yesterday found carcinogens up to 900 times above World Health Organisation levels in drinking water in one area.

Vermilion Energy VET delivered steady results in the second quarter, with average production of 35.2 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, versus our expectations of 35.1 mboe/d. The company cited a new well in the Netherlands and the lack of cyclone activity in Australia as reason for the 3% average daily production growth during the first quarter.