Interested parties are voicing their dissatisfaction over the government’s decision to extend the provincial moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.
New Brunswick Energy and Mines Minister Donald Arsenault made the announcement last week, advising that the moratorium put in place at the end of 2014 would remain due to health concerns and safety measures that can’t currently be met.
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“When it comes to the frack-water … even if there’d be no moratorium today, there’s no place where you can treat that water.”
New Brunswick’s struggling economy could certainly use the boost shale gas exploration could bring to the province however the government says they refuse to put revenue before the safety of residents.
Energy producers aren’t buying that reason however.
“New Brunswick has one of the longest history’s of oil and gas exploration in the country,” said Atlantica Centre for Energy President Colleen Mitchell. “It’s kind of ironic that we are here today thinking that we can’t do it safely.”
“Corridor resources has been developing, exploring and producing natural gas in the province for over ten years and they have an exemplary record from a health standpoint, safety and environmental,” Mitchell said.
New Brunswick based Corridor publicly stated they are “profoundly disappointed” with the government’s decision citing an over $500 million investment in the province they have already made, along with plans to invest $70 million more on projects between 2018 and 2021.
Once the announcement was made business leaders in New Brunswick’s three main cities let their feelings be known by way of a joint press released between Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton’s Chambers of Commerce.
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“We saw the opportunity for supply chain for business growth and for opportunity in a time when the economy is in a bit of a downturn,” explained Fredericton Chamber of Commerce CEO Krista Ross. “So we really saw that there was opportunity for our members to benefit from shale gas.”
New Brunswick business is of the belief that for an industry with great potential such as hydraulic fracturing, putting the proper procedures in place is the responsibility of the government and one they shouldn’t avoid.
“It’s really up to the government to determine what ones they want to pursue and set up a regulatory environment to allow that to happen,” Ross said.
“We’re confident they can do that, they regulate all kinds of industries, this one should be no different.”
The province says they have made their decision on the moratorium and do not plan to look further into the process at this time.
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