Activities of Ivailo KALFIN related to 2011/2309(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on industrial, energy and other aspects of shale gas and oil PDF (185 KB) DOC (103 KB)
Amendments (23)
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that various estimates of shale gas resources in Europe have been made, including by the US Energy Information Administration; recognises that, although these estimates are, by their very nature, imprecise, they point to the existence of a large indigenous energy resource; notes that most of Europe's oil shale reserves are concentrated in Estonia and that other sources of unconventional oil have yet to be explored in Europe on a wider scale;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that policy-makers would benefit from more exact data to enable them to make informed choices; agrees, therefore, with the European Council that Europe's potential for sustainable extraction and use of shale gas and oil shale resources should be assessed and mapped; welcomes the assessments made by Member States and encourages them to continue this work, and asks the Commission to contribute to determining the level of available shale gas reserves in the Union by assembling results from Member States' assessments and available results from exploration projects with a view to analysing and and asks the Commission to contribute to assessing the economic and environmental viability of domestic shale gas production;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that, as the gas market becomes ever more global and interconnected, the development of shale gas willmay increase global gas-to-gas competition and willmay therefore continue to have a major effect on prices; points out that shale gas will help to strengthen the position of customers vis-à-vis gas suppliers and should therefore lead to lower prices;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes, on the other hand, that significant investments are needed for the establishment of all the necessary infrastructures related to the drilling and to the storage, transport and reprocessing of gas and fracking fluid, which must be entirely covered by the industry;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses that at EU level the principle of subsidiarity in terms of energy mix solutions applies for shale gas exploration and/or extractions; notes however that shale gas exploration may have a cross- border dimension, especially when drilling is conducted near the terrestrial border with another Member State or when it affects the underground water, air or soil of more than one country; calls for full disclosure of all technical and environmental issues relating to shale gas exploration and appropriate cooperation with all stakeholders before and during concessions;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Observes that consumption of natural gas is on the rise; recognises, therefore, the crucpotential role of worldwide shale gas production in ensuring energy security and diversity in the long term, including in Europe; is aware that domestic production of shale gas will contribute to security of supply, bearing in mind Member States' dependence on natural gas imports from third countries; stresses, however, that it is crucial to adopt other security-of-supply measures and policies, such as improving energy efficiency, ensuring sufficient gas storage facilities, diversifying gas supplies and transit routes and building reliable partnerships with supplier, transit and consumer countries;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is of the view that developing shnaturale gas in the EU will help achieve the EU's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, which is the basis of the Energy Roadmap for 2050; notes however that according to various studies the emissions footprint of shale gas tends to be much higher than those of conventional gas;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission, in line with the EU Energy Roadmap 2050 strategy, to evaluate the impact of and prospects for unconventional gas in the EU, taking into account both the industrial and the environmental impacts, whilst recognising that the extent of unconventional gas use in the EU will ultimately be decided by the market;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls that the massive increase in US shale gas production has been supported by an established industrial environment, including sufficient numbers of rigs, the necessary manpower and an experienced and well-equipped service industry; notes that, in the EU, it will take time for the necessary service sector to build up adequate capacity and for companies to acquire the necessary equipment and experience to support a high level of shale gas production, which is also likely to contribute to higher costs in the short term; encourages cooperation between relevant EU and US companies with a view to reducing costs and best practices' sharing on environmentally friendly industrial processes; believes that expectations about the pace of shale gas development in the EU should be realistic;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission to evaluate the possible economic benefits of shale gas, including employment opportunities, as well as the expected costs both in the short and long-term, while taking into consideration the need to explicitly answer all the legitimate concerns of the communities affected;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Notes the technological developments in Austria, where the industry is proposing the use of fracking fluids containing only water, sand and cornstarch; recommends that other Member States and the Commission examine the possibility of extracting shale gas without the use of chemicals, and calls for further research and development into such techniques and/or practices that would mitigate potential impacts on the environment;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Member States to ensure they put in place the necessary administrative and monitoring resources to ensure the highest possible standards, once a decision for the development of shale gas activities is taken;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that the current licensing procedure for shale gas exploration is regulated by general mining or hydrocarbon legislation; expresses the view that the regulatory framework in the EU for early exploration is adequateshould be reinforced with a framework on the environmental and public health impacts of the industrial processes of shale gas exploration and/or exploitation;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on public authorities without delay to check and, if necessary, improve regulatory frameworks in order to ensure their adequacy for shale gas projects, especially with a view to being prepared for possible future commercial-scale production in Europe as well as for addressing environmental risks;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Is well aware that public attitudes to shale gas development vary between the Member States; calls for better public information relating to shale gas operations and supports the creation of portals providing access to a wide range of public information on shale gas operations; urges companies extracting shale gas in the EU to provide, prior to drilling, full information on their activities, including public disclosure of all the chemicals, components and their concentration they intend to use in hydraulic fracturing;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that it is particularly important for EU shale gas operators to engage and build strong relationships with local communities at every stage of their operations, given that the EU has a higher population density than the USA and landowners in Europe do not own underground resources and so do not benefit directly from extraction, as in the USA; calls on shale gas companies to ensure local communities benefit from shale gas development and to ensure the application of "guilty pays all" principle;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Recognises that there should be an emphasis on a transparent and open dialogue with civil society both during the ex-ante and the monitoring phases, based on the scientific evidence available; recalls that the 2012 EU budget includes an appropriation intended to fund pilot projects and other support activities with a view to encouraging such a dialogue; considers that this should be organised in a neutral manner and in close cooperation with the Member States, including national authorities, local communities, the general public, businesses and NGOs;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Stresses the importance of applying the best available and safe technologies and the best operational practices in shale gas production and of continuously improving technologies and practices;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses that, by developing better technologies and practices based on robust regulations, operators and service industries will not only improve public acceptance of shale gas projects but also gain business opportunities and should be primarily focused on the environmental impacts and public health issues, related to drilling, which improve export opportunities, given the worldwide environmental challenges of unconventional gas exploration;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Highlights the need for minimumrigorous safety standards and inspections at safety- critical stages of well construction and hydraulic fracturing; stresses, in particular, that operators should reduce flaring and venting and should, where possible, recover gas;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Urges the exchange of best practices and information between the EU and the US; in particular, encourages the pairing of European and US cities and municipalities which have discovered shale gas; stresses the importance of the transfer of knowledge about shale gas development from industry to local communities;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission and the, Member States to promote and supportand the industry to consider conducting environmentally-sound pilot projects in the EU for the exploitation of unconventional domestic energy sources;